Councilmember Omar Torres is pictured at a news conference in this file photo.
San Jose police have served a search warrant on Councilmember Omar Torres on suspicion of child sexual abuse material and underage relationships, multiple sources have told San José Spotlight.
A San Jose Police Department spokesperson confirmed Thursday night that a criminal investigation is underway into a councilmember, but declined to say why.
Two sources told San José Spotlight the nature of the investigation is of a sexual nature and involves minors.
“The investigation is active and ongoing. For this reason, we do not have more information to provide at this time,” a spokesperson for the police department told San José Spotlight. “As the investigation unfolds and new information is discovered, SJPD hopes to provide an update at a later date.”
Torres’ chief of staff Kiera Arreola was seen crying outside the office on the 18th floor of City Hall, according to a San Jose councilmember who asked for anonymity. Arreola could not be immediately reached for comment.
Sources say Torres solicited sexually explicit images of a minor during a trip to Chicago. Torres was in the city for the Democratic National Convention in August.
Calls to Torres’ phone went straight to voicemail.
He issued a statement from his office late Thursday saying he was “wrongfully detained and questioned” by police detectives and called the accusations “baseless.” Torres said he cooperated with authorities and turned over passwords to his computer because he has nothing to hide. He also claimed the investigation is “retaliation” after he filed a police report against someone who was extorting and stalking him.
“I want to be clear that I am the victim in this matter,” he wrote in a statement on official San Jose letterhead. “It’s heartbreaking that my family, my partner, my team, and myself have to respond to such unfounded and defamatory allegations.”
Tasha Dean, a spokesperson for Mayor Matt Mahan, declined to comment.
San Jose’s political circles on Thursday were rocked by the accusations, with many expressing shock and struggling to understand the situation.
“Everyone is trying to figure out what’s happening,” San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez told San José Spotlight. “I, like everyone else, want a better understanding of what took place. As elected officials, we give up our anonymity and privacy — and I just want more information.”
Torres — a self-described pragmatic progressive — was elected in 2022 to represent District 3, which encompasses neighborhoods from Vendome and Naglee Park to Japantown and Spartan Keyes. It’s also home to San Jose State University and several theaters and music halls.
“I’ve known Omar for 10 years. I never saw him do anything inappropriate or criminal related,” Councilmember Peter Ortiz told San José Spotlight. “There is due process and everybody is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Torres was absent from a VTA board meeting he was scheduled to attend Thursday night.
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter. Contact Ramona Giwargis at [email protected] or follow @RamonaGiwargis on Twitter.