LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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LMPD officer indicted on misconduct, harassment charges

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A grand jury has indicted a Louisville Metro Police officer on several charges.

Officer Michael Arterburn is facing seven counts, including official misconduct, harassing communications, and unlawful access to a computer.

Arterburn is part of the metro police department's crimes against children's unit, but his police powers have been stripped. "We uncovered this through our internal audits, our internal reviews it was brought to the chief's attention," says Sgt. Robert Biven, with LMPD.

Right now, police won't say exactly what Arterburn is accused of doing, however, according to a circuit court indictment, he's charged with unlawful access to a computer, official misconduct and harassing communications.

"We do believe this was completely domestic in nature and isolated to that," says Biven.

According to the indictment, the charges are related to a problem with Arterburn and his wife but still serious enough for police to get involved. "Chief White took immediate action, ordered a criminal investigation to be conducted by our public integrity unit. Once that was completed they felt it was serious enough to have the commonwealth's attorney's office take a look at it," says Biven.

And on Monday a grand jury returned an indictment against Arterburn; the case is now in the hands of the commonwealth's attorney's office according to Biven. "It's very serious anytime one of our officers allegedly has committed any criminal acts we take it very seriously."

It's a serious matter, but right now police won't say whether or not it will cost Arterburn his job.

"We'll let the criminal courts take their course of action, the chief will then take a look at that information to see how to proceed," says Biven.

Right now, Officer Arterburn has been reassigned to administrative duties. His first court date is scheduled for this coming Monday.