Gwinnett County Police officer arrested for sexual battery of a minor

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–A Gwinnett County Police Officer has been arrested on sexual battery charges involving a minor, following an investigation began by his patrol supervisor.

Officer Patrick Ventura, 28, has been charged with two counts of Child Molestation, one count of Sexual Battery Against a Child Under the Age of 16, and one count of Violation of Oath of Office. Ventura, who worked in the North Precinct, is being held at the Gwinnett County Jail with no bond. Ventura has been served with a Letter of Intent to Terminate, authorities stated.

In late July, a supervisor began investigating inconsistencies in Ventura’s patrol activities. During the course of the investigation, the Special Victims Unit became involved because the allegations involved a girl under the age of 16. Details surrounding the criminal investigation are confidential in accordance with OCGA 49-5-40(b).

Ventura was hired as a police officer by the Gwinnett County Police Department in October 2020. He graduated from the Academy in the spring of 2021.

Authorities issued the following statement in a news release on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023:

“The Gwinnett County Police Department works hard to provide excellent customer service to our community, and we hold one another to a high standard of personal conduct. Though the actions of Ventura do not represent the hard-working members of the Gwinnett County Police Department, we hold every one of our officers accountable for their actions.”

Booking photo via Gwinnett County Police Department.