St. Petersburg Police Officer Iraj Karkevandian, age 34, turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Jail for an arrest warrant on a charge of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a 2nd degree felony. (Any questions about this investigation should be directed to the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office.)

When the St. Petersburg Police Department first learned he had been questioned by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s investigators, he was removed from patrol duties and placed on administrative duty on December 6th, for not disclosing this to his supervisor, as required by department General Orders.

Tuesday, the Department was notified that the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office had filed charges and an arrest warrant was pending. At that time, Officer Karkevandian was escorted home and we removed his department issued equipment and placed him on paid administrative leave.

On Wednesday evening, when Officer Karkevandian was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, St. Petersburg Police Assistant Chief Michael Kovacsev, acting on behalf of Chief Holloway, issued an administrative order suspending him without pay until the outcome of his criminal case.

Officer Karkevandian was sworn as a St. Petersburg Police Officer on June 23, 2014.