Saturday, July 11, 2009

Former Officer Wade Langer Arrested for Sexual Assault


Former Center police officer Wade Langer, 36, was arrested at his home, July 2, by Center Police on a warrant issued out of Mesa County alleging nine counts of sex assault against a child and one count of first-degree sex assault.

After his arrest last Thursday, Langer was taken to the Saguache County Jail. He was handed over to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Friday, the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office reported. He is being held without bond.

Later it was determined that the investigation into Langer’s activities is being conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, (CBI). A CBI spokesperson stated that the warrant in Langer’s case has been sealed until the investigation is concluded.

When asked what circumstances might lead to a sealed warrant, Denver press information officer Lance Clem commented that this often is done to protect the identity of a minor or when the case is still under investigation.

Mesa County records indicate that Langer also was charged with a sexually related offense in 2001 that was later judged to be unfounded.

Background

Langer came to Center from Grand Junction. He resided in Center with his wife and three step-children where he served as a Center Police Officer for two years. Langer resigned last summer after contesting a speeding ticket issued by the Colorado State Patrol. He said he submitted his resignation to accept another position as a police officer.

Charges from Langer’s speeding ticket were successfully contested and later dropped. He was able to prove that he had been called to a family emergency that could have involved a life or death situation.

Langer also is named in a suit filed Dec. 4, 2008 by Maria J. Cisneros. Cisneros alleges that Langer and two fellow officers at that time searched her home without a proper search warrant. The civil action filed in U.S. District Court on Cisneros’ behalf states that, “On May 15, 2008, a notice of claim was submitted to the Town of Center, via registered mail, pursuant to requirements of C.R.S. § 24-10-109, Exhibit E. There was no response to the notice of claim from any of the Defendants or their agents.”

Langer denies that events unfolded as Cisneros states in her complaint. Cisneros cites violations of the fourth and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution and is seeking damages for emotional injury and the use of excessive force.

In the course of protesting the search, Cisneros says she was treated roughly while being arrested and later sought treatment at San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center. At the time she was recovering from breast cancer surgery.

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