By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
A former Austin police officer was arrested Tuesday by the Arkansas State Police after allegedly sexually assaulting a prisoner in his custody.
William Tremaine, 28, is charged with third-degree sexual assault, a Class C felony.
He is being held in the Lonoke County Jail under a suicide watch. Bail will not be set until he goes before a judge, likely at the end of the week.
Bill Sadler, spokesman for the State Police, said Tremaine allegedly had sexual contact with a handcuffed female prisoner.
Austin Police Chief John Staley said Tremaine left the Austin Police Department after the allegations of sexual assault and that he had no details about the investigation.
Sadler said Tremaine lived in Ward, where he was taken into custody without incident.
