Original Article Mesa officer arrested in abuse case Senta Scarborough The Arizona Republic Dec. 17, 2004 12:00 AM A Mesa police officer was arrested Thursday, accused of inappropriately touching three females, including a 17-year old girl, while on duty earlier this year. Officer Matthew Driver, 32, a four-year veteran, was arrested at his Apache Junction home. A Maricopa County grand jury indicted him Wednesday on six counts of sexual abuse, a Class 5 felony. He made his initial appearance in court Thursday evening and was held on a $27,000 cash-only bond. Police said the incidents occurred in June and July and involved three females, ages 33, 23 and 17. Two of the three women reported the abuse to police. Mesa police investigators combed through Driver's contacts with the public and discovered a third incident. None of the women knew each other, and all claimed Driver inappropriately touched them. Police discovered evidence that corroborated the women's allegations, according to court records. Driver's arrest was the result of a five-month investigation by the department's Center Against Family Violence. "While being investigated, he was placed on administrative suspension and not allowed to function as a police officer," Mesa Detective Tim Gaffney said. "If in fact Officer Driver acted as alleged in these complaints, it violates the law and the public trust we have tried so hard to gain." Driver was required to stay at home during work hours while on paid suspension. The case was forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, and police were notified Thursday that an arrest warrant had been issued for Driver, Gaffney said. "There is a possibility that there are additional victims out there and that is why we are releasing this information and why we have a specific phone number set up where victims can call information in," Gaffney said. That number is (480) 644-4823.