Officer(s) Involved: Torrance police officer Evan Robert Dahl, 23, at the time of his arrest.
Synopsis: Officer Dahl was arrested on 6 May 2022 at the Torrance Police Station on suspicion of felony possession of child sex abuse material following a Los Angeles Police Department investigation.
He was released from custody on 13 May 2022, on his own recognizizence.and Torrance Police department spokesperson Sergeant Mark Ponegalek confirmed Mr. Dahl no longer works for the department.
The LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children task force learned in March that the unlawful material was uploaded to a social media platform from an unknown address in Torrance, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Investigators then served search warrants at several locations throughout the city, including Dahl’s residence, “where evidence was seized,” according to the LAPD. Dahl was originally charged with one felony count each of distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Outcome: On 7 December 2022, Dahl pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of child pornography in a plea agreement with prosecutors. Dahl was ordered to attend 52 weeks of sex offender counseling and must register as a sex offender. He was not ordered to serve any jail time.
