Friday, May 31, 2024

Tamaqua Police Officer Arrested for Alleged Crimes Involving Minors and Animals in Columbia County

A Tamaqua Police Officer was arrested in Columbia County on numerous shocking charges on Friday.

Christopher Cordes, 27, of Bloomsburg, was arrested Friday morning by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office on the charges Sexual contact with a minor, Unlawful contact with a minor, Child pornography, disseminating photography of child sexual acts, disseminating explicit sexual material of a minor, Criminal use of a communication facility, Sexual intercourse with an animal, Conspiracy to disseminate photography of child sexual acts, Conspiracy to possess child pornography.

The charges stem from Cordes' alleged use of a Snapchat account.

The Tamaqua Police Department acknowledged that Cordes was arrested on Friday releasing the following statement on their social media.

Our office only just became aware of this situation this morning, and we are not in a position to comment on the charges specifically. However, we are cooperating fully, and we will continue to cooperate fully in the Attorney General's investigation of Officer Cordes. We are not aware of any allegations of inappropriate activity while Officer Cordes was on duty.

Cordes was suspended without pay for conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Cordes was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Russell Lawton, Bloomsburg, on Friday and locked up in Columbia County Prison on $250,000 straight cash bail. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12th, 2024, before Judge Lawton.