Brewster police officer's Snapchat leads to arrest, administrative leave: 'Offensive.'

ORLEANS − A 46-year-old Brewster police officer accused of possessing and sending out child sex abuse materials pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Orleans District Court.

Matthew B. Marshall was also arraigned on charges of defacement of real or personal property, unlawful communication of record information, and photos taken outside of first responder's official duties, to which he also pleaded not guilty. In one of those incidents, authorities allege, Marshall is shown on video urinating all over the inside of a restroom of a Dunkin Donuts, including the sink, door and handles.

He was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after his duty shift by the Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois.

On May 3, the Massachusetts State Police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on behalf of the social media messaging app Snapchat. Snapchat had identified an account possessing two videos containing child sex abuse materials, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Scalise told Judge Robert A. Welsh.

The second video was sent to five other Snapchat users, according to Scalise.

What did investigators find on Brewster police officer's Snapchat?

While searching the Snapchat account for other images of child sex abuse materials, investigators found other videos and photographs depicting apparent crimes. They applied for a second search warrant to expand their scope.

"The basis of that was there were videos depicting the defendant entering into what was later determined to be a Dunkin Donuts and urinating all over the inside of the bathroom...on the sink, on the handles, on the door," said Scalise.

Investigators determined the act had occurred at a Dunkin Donuts on Rte. 28 in Yarmouth on May 3. They recovered surveillance video showing Marshall entering and exiting the men's bathroom for about 90 seconds while wearing his Brewster Police uniform around 9 a.m.

This "coincided with the timestamp on the video," said Scalise.

Other Snapchat videos and images showed what appeared to be Criminal Justice Information System license photographs. One video included audio with Marshall's voice narrating and making derogatory remarks about the person whose photograph was displayed, according to the report.

Another three-second video appeared to have been taken inside a home during a Brewster Police call for service. It showed an elderly man with "some type of diminished capacity" and his buttocks and genitals exposed and a diaper around his legs, according to Scalise. The man did not seem to be aware he was being recorded and the video does not appear to have been taken for a law enforcement reason, she said.

In an interview with State Police on July 24, Marshall took ownership of the Snapchat account and "added that the account was hacked and deactivated, months ago while working a detail in Yarmouth," according to the report. He denied knowledge of the images of the child sex abuse material.

'All these facts are allegations'

"The Commonwealth has given you a long recitation of what they see as the facts of this case. However, I would just remind the court that all these facts are allegations, that Mr. Marshall is innocent until proven guilty in this matter ... Mr. Marshall is someone who has absolutely no prior criminal record (and) a long career in law enforcement," said attorney Robyn J. Keating, who represented Marshall at his arraignment.

Bail was set at $1,000. As conditions of release, Marshall must have no contact with children besides his own daughter, surrender all firearms, and allow probation to randomly search all his electronic devices capable of accessing the Internet.

Marshall did not speak with media when he left the courthouse.

Marshal relieved of duty and on administrative leave

Brewster Police Chief Heath Eldredge immediately suspended Marshall's license to carry a firearm, took his service weapon, and placed him on administrative leave.

"The allegations against Matthew Marshall are offensive and absolutely not in line with the policies and values of the Brewster Police Department," said Eldredge in a statement. "These actions do not represent the standards of the hardworking members of the Department. Our officers stand committed to serving the community with integrity and are dedicated to building and maintaining public trust."

Marshall was hired by the Brewster Police Department as a dispatcher in 2005 and as an officer in 2007. He has been relieved of duty and an internal affairs investigation is underway to determine his employment status, according to the department.

Eldredge has also notified the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission so that "POST may take appropriate actions regarding Marshall's certification to work as a police officer," according to the statement.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Brewster police officer's Snapchat leads to arrest, multiple charges