Denton jailer fired, arrested after inmate alleges he sexually harassed her, police say
An employee at the Denton city jail was fired and arrested in connection with the sexual harassment of an inmate, police said in a news release.
On July 17, a woman reported to authorities that the jailer, 22-year-old Miguel Mederos, offered her a ride to her vehicle after she was released from the Denton city jail on Jan. 2, 2023. She accepted the offer and Mederos made several sexual statements toward her during the ride, she told authorities. He also made sexual advances toward her in text messages that same day, according to the release.
Upon the report, police immediately placed Mederos on administrative leave, the release says.
After reviewing evidence and conducting interviews, detectives determined that Mederos intentionally “subjected the victim to sexual harassment by requesting sexual favors,” acting under his employment, the release states.
Mederos was fired Tuesday and was arrested on a charge of official oppression. He had worked for the Denton Police Department since June 2022.
“Our community is accustomed to a high level of police services, and it is essential that our actions reflect this reputation. The behavior of this individual is unfortunate and certainly does not represent the values of Denton’s law enforcement,” said interim police Chief Jessica Robledo in the release. “All Denton PD employees are held to the highest of standards in our City and when their actions are inconsistent with this expectation, we have a duty to act swiftly.”
Mederos is being held at the Denton County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Anyone with information regarding the case or any employee misconduct is asked to contact Internal Affairs Sgt. Michael McIntire at 940-349-8965.
