Six Arrested in Shore Fight; LB Detective Charged with Sex Crimes

The citywide news site LBReport.com reported learning that the Long Beach police department was called to the scene of a large fight on 2nd Street, in the area of Covina, that led to the arrest of six suspects, early Sunday morning.

The brawl happened at about 1:45 a.m. near the cross streets anchored by Peet's, Jack 'N the Box and, a few doors down, Legend's sports bar.

"LBPD Public Information Officer Nancy Pratt said that at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday (May 1), LBPD responded to a fight call in the area of 2nd St./Covina Ave. that involved several individuals.

"LBPD took six persons into custody on various charges including battery and public intoxication." 

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The Press Telegram, quoting a San Bernardino County prosecutor and court records, reported that a Long Beach police youth services detective was charged Monday with lewd and lascivious acts and with having sex with an under age female family member starting when she was 15 years old.

The Long Beach Police Department issued a statement to the paper that confirmed an employee was on unpaid administrative leave during the ongoing investigation by the Upland police department but did not identify the officer. 

"Detective Erik Alvarez, 42, of Upland, was arrested April 27 by Upland police officers and faces three felony charges, according to San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Karen Schmauss," the paper reported. Alvarez faces one charge of lewd or lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years old, and two charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 18, who is more than three years younger than the perpetrator, according to San Bernardino County court records.

Schmauss said that all of the alleged crimes involved a single victim, who was 15 when the sexual acts for which Alvarez is charged in the first felony count occurred between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009. The victim was 16 years old in 2010 and then 17 by 2011 when the crimes for which Alvarez faces the second and third charges allegedly occurred, Schmauss said.

"It was an ongoing act with a female relative," the deputy district attorney alleged.

If convicted of all three charges, Alvarez could face up to four years and four months in state prison, Schmauss said.

Alvarez was arraigned Monday in San Bernardino County Superior Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court records. He remains in custody and does not appear to have posted bond for his $250,000 bail, the paper reported.