Menasha Police Officer Cristian Morales has been arrested in Appleton on suspicion of stalking. (Photo courtesy Outagamie County Jail)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Menasha police officer Cristian Morales was ordered Tuesday to stand trial for allegedly using a license plate recognition system to track his ex-girlfriend.
Morales, 31, faces one count of misconduct in office. He waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday. An arraignment date was not immediately set.
According to the complaint, Morales’ ex-girlfriend complained he had used the Flock system to monitor her location. A review of Morales’ activity showed he tried to use it five different times for her vehicle in early October.
“Cristian indicated that “desperation, and bad judgment, combined with a lack of sleep”, contributed to his decision to use Flock. He also indicated he knew his decision to use Flock was wrong, but it was out of a pure moment of “desperation and lack of judgment,” the complaint states.
The Menasha Police Department said Morales was placed on administrative leave.
Separately, a civil filing seeking a temporary restraining order in a domestic abuse case was filed against Morales Thursday by an unnamed petitioner. A hearing is set for Wednesday in that case.
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