SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — Embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres was arrested on Tuesday, the San Jose Police Department confirmed to NewsNation affiliate KRON. Torres was arrested as part of an investigation for lewd acts with a child, police said.
Torres submitted his letter of resignation from the city council as well, Councilmember Bien Doan confirmed. Local officials had called on him to resign from the city council after the allegations surfaced.
“Omar Torres has been arrested on suspicion of committing some of the most serious crimes imaginable,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said. “I’m horrified by the possibility that — far from his claim of outrageous fantasies — he may have in fact harmed children.”
The city council voted to remove Torres from his council-assigned appointments. Torres had asked for a 30-day hiatus to focus on his mental health.
Torres was elected in 2022 to represent San Jose’s District 3. He was the first openly gay Latino to sit on any city council in Santa Clara County, according to his official bio.
A police affidavit obtained by KRON contains texts from Torres in which he says he had oral sex with a 17-year-old. The texts were with a 21-year-old Chicago man named Terry Beeks, who Torres had a “sexual online relationship” with, the affidavit said.
Torres claimed that Beeks extorted him for nearly $22,000 after threatening to release nude photos of the council member. The Chicago Police Department served a search warrant at Beeks’ house in September, seizing items including his phone and laptop.
Beeks told police that Torres made comments about the genitalia of an underage boy and asked Beeks about “finding minors,” according to the police affidavit. After seeing Torres’ and Beeks’ texts, SJPD began thinking of Torres as a suspect and not a victim.
Torres has maintained his innocence throughout. His attorney told KRON in October that his texts were “outrageous fantasy and role play,” and “do not reflect any real-world actions or intentions.”
SJPD will hold a press conference on Wednesday with more information.