Oakland police officer charged with sex acts with prostitute

OAKLAND (KTVU) -- Authorities announced Thursday that an Oakland police officer has been charged after he was arrested a day earlier in connection with an alleged involvement with a prostitute.

Ryan Walterhouse, 26, was charged with wo felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and a misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution, investigators said during a press conference at Oakland police headquarters. Walterhouse was arrested Wednesday in downtown Oakland about 9 p.m. as he arrived for work.

Officials said they believe the incident did not go beyond Walterhouse.

"This does not define our organization," Deputy Chief John Lois said.

And in a written statement released Thursday morning, the department said: 

"The Oakland Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct involving our employees seriously. We hold all of our employees to a high level of ethical and professional accountability and will not tolerate criminal behavior. Ensuring internal investigations are swift, fair and objective is our priority."

Deputy Chief Lois said the alleged crimes occurred both on- and off-duty. 

Mayor Libby Schaaf said, "It is incredibly disturbing that in light of what happened this summer, any officer could think that it was at all acceptable to engage in this type of behavior and further sully the reputation of this department that has been working so hard."

Officials said Walterhouse's arrest is not connected to a sex scandal that rocked Bay Area law enforcement agencies. Celeste Guap (an alias used by the woman at the center of the scandal and misconduct allegations), claims she had sex with two dozen current and former officers in five cities, according to initial newspaper reports.

The reports say the woman, a Richmond resident and the daughter of an Oakland police dispatcher, says she slept with three of the officers before she turned 18 last August.  

Meanwhile, the Oakland Police Department is still searching for a new chief. 

KTVU reporter Henry Lee contributed to this report.