State trooper resigns after accusations of sex on duty, official misconduct

A veteran Oregon State Police detective resigned Friday, the day after he was charged with patronizing a prostitute and official misconduct.

Richard Narvaez, who worked in OSP's Tribal Gaming Section in Salem, was arraigned Thursday in Clackamas County Circuit Court in connection with an Aug. 6 incident east of Milwaukie. Narvaez's case on the two Class A misdemeanor charges has not yet been set for trial. Meanwhile, he was released without being required to post bail.

Narvaez, 50, was suspended by OSP without pay on Aug. 7.

State police officials declined to comment Friday. OSP Superintendent Richard Evans released a statement on the situation immediately after Narvaez was arrested by Clackamas County sheriff's deputies:

"This is troubling news when we learn that one of our employees is alleged to commit any crime," Evans said. "This obviously is a rare incident and should no way reflect on our other employees who do things right and don't step outside of our laws and rules of ethics. We appreciate the quick response by the sheriff's office and will conduct our personnel investigation as their criminal investigation continues and the matter is adjudicated in court."

According to the Clackamas County sheriff's office, deputies were sent to investigate a report of a man and a woman engaged in a sex act in the bushes off Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard near 77th Court. Upon arriving at the scene, police identified the man as Narvaez.

Narvaez, who has worked for OSP for 23 years, was on duty but not in uniform at the time of the incident.

Police arrested the woman, 32-year-old Tiffany Denise Smith of Southeast Portland, on outstanding probation violation warrants and accusations of prostitution. She failed to appear at her arraignment in Clackamas County Circuit Court Thursday and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

-- Rick Bella

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