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San Jose cop arrested for masturbating in front of 2 women while in their home on disturbance call

Dominguez, who has been on the police for four years, will face a year in prison and ten years on the sexual offender registry if convicted

A San Jose police officer is facing an indecent exposure charge, after reportedly masturbating in the house of a family he and other cops were summoned to after a disturbance. Matthew Dominguez, 32, is accused of committing the act on April 21 following a call about a mentally ill family member becoming violent, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. 

According to a news release by Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, he sent two other responding officers away to locate the suspect and then touched himself in front of two female family members of the victim, and later exposed himself to the victim’s mother in a dining room. "The shocked and scared victims fled and reported the officer's behavior to two male relatives nearby," the news release further added. 

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District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement, “The charged behavior is beyond disturbing. Law enforcement officers respond to our homes to help crime victims, not terrorize, traumatize, and create new victims.” According to a San Jose police spokeswoman, the officer has been placed on administrative leave until the outcome of the inquiry.  Dominguez, who has been on the police for four years, will face a year in prison and ten years on the sexual offender registry if convicted. On Thursday, May 12, Police Chief Anthony Mata posted a YouTube video of himself leading Dominguez out of the department's Internal Affairs Office. 

NBC Bay Area, which first reported on the claims against Dominguez last week, added that Dominguez is the third San Jose cop to face criminal charges in the last few days. According to NBC, one cop was placed on leave after responding inebriated to an abduction call, while another is being probed for claims that he gave a meth pipe to a lady in return for information.

In a statement on Thursday, May 12, Police Chief Anthony Mata said, "I made it clear that I will not make excuses for criminal conduct from a Police Officer. We are and should be held to the highest standards. That is what the public expects of us and what I expect of the men and women who serve and protect San Jose." Mata then proposed disciplinary process modifications that would allow him to talk frankly with the public about situations when I feel firing is the only choice. Mata stated that this might involve criminal prosecution and decertification as a police officer.