A Welsh Police Officer is in custody after turning hiself in to Calcasieu Sheriff Deputies Wednesday night. 24 year old Eric Williams is charged with indecent behavior with a child and trafficking in children for sexual purposes.
Williams's last known address is in Orange, Texas. That's where the trafficking charge originates. Officials believe he took a minor from Louisiana into Texas.
A longtime mentor of Williams says the charges come as a shock. Welsh Detective Arthur Phillips says Williams wanted to be a police officer ever since he was a child. He says he even helped Williams become an officer in Vinton and the in Welsh in 2007.
"Williams was a good officer, he had the drive for it. He believed in helping people. We never had any problems with him, never had any problems," Phillips said.
Williams is still employed with the Welsh Police Department but won't be on duty until the investigation into the allegations against him is complete.
"Well that's certainly up to the Welsh Police Deptartmetn," Tony Moncuso, with the Calcasieu Sheriff's Department said. "He certaintly hasn't been proven guilty in the court of law yet but there certainly seems to be a certain pattern of him going after young boys wether it be in Texas or Louisiana."
Williams is facing several charges in both Texas and Louisiana. He's being held in Calcasieu Parish on $1M bond.


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