Was a Kansas cop behind a horrific series of rapes and kidnappings?

On Wednesday, a police department in Kansas announced that it had arrested a sex offender who was behind a truly shocking, years-long crime wave. The suspect, said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper, is a former patrol officer with his department.

Todd Allen, 51, served at the agency for more than 20 years until resigning in 2018. While he was still an officer, authorities allege, Allen was responsible for a disturbing series of crimes. He has now been charged with two dozen crimes, including five counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, nine counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecent liberties with a child, court documents said. All were also charged with two counts of sexual assault and five counts of invasion of privacy and wiretapping. His bail was set at $6 million.

The extensive list of charges relates to an alleged series of sexual assaults that occurred in Hutchinson city parks between October 2012 and November 2018, as well as a series of prowler reports from May 2019 to June 2022.

At a news conference Wednesday, Hooper called Allen a “predator” and added that with Allen’s arrest, his department had closed 17 of the cases it investigated. Hooper also said it was possible there could be more victims and urged them to come forward.

“I am appalled and outraged that anyone suspected of such crimes and behavior ever wore the uniform and this badge that I am allowed to pin on my chest every day,” Hooper said, according to KWCH12.

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Hooper added that about three weeks after he joined the Hutchinson Police Department in 2018, a sexual assault occurred in one of the city’s parks. Investigators linked the attack to a series of other crimes committed in the same area since 2012. Because the agency had never publicly commented on the attacks, Hooper called a news conference in November 2018 to warn residents “of potential dangers and precautions they may take.” ”

After the alarm was raised, the sexual assaults suddenly stopped and Allen resigned from the force shortly afterwards.

Authorities began receiving calls about window-peeping and sneaking last month. Allen was arrested in connection with one of those complaints, and investigators then blamed him for the sexual assaults between 2012 and 2018.

“I am proud of this administration and all the men and women who have worked diligently on these cases over the last decade and who brought Mr. Allen to justice today,” Hooper added.

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