Visalia Fire Department Employee Arrested on Child Pornography Charges, Police Say | YourCentralValley.com

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A Visalia Fire Department employee was arrested Wednesday after he was found to have allegedly possessed and exchanged child pornography, Visalia police said.

According to police, detectives with the Department of Youth Services issued an arrest warrant for Ignacio Ruiz, an engineer with the Visalia Fire Department, at 3 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Officials said the investigation revealed that Ruiz exchanged and possessed child pornography. Prior to his arrest, several arrest warrants were served that led to his identification.

When Ruiz was taken into custody, police said a search warrant was executed at his home with the assistance of the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and Homeland Security.

As of Wednesday, investigators said there was no evidence that any crimes were committed while Ruiz was performing duties with the Visalia Fire Department. This is an ongoing investigation. The digital forensic evidence will be further examined as we move forward.

Visalia Fire Department Fire Chief Dan Griswold issued a statement on the matter, saying the department is cooperating with police and Ruiz has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.

The public’s trust in the Visalia Fire Department is essential and this matter will be investigated as quickly as possible. It is important to allow for a thorough investigation. The Visalia Fire Department is requesting a full and thorough investigation to determine the facts of this case. As this is a personnel matter, we ask for your understanding that we are not legally permitted to discuss the matter. This isolated incident does not reflect who we are as an agency and does not reflect the values ​​of the Visalia Fire Department or its members.

Chief Dan Griswold.

According to officials, Ruiz was booked into the Tulare County Detention Center on suspicion of child pornography.