Police officer 'sexually abused teenage girl every week for FOUR YEARS and threatened to kill himself if she told anyone'

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Sergeant Juan Ruiz-Carrillo, 47, has been accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl on a near weekly basis for four years starting when she 15

A Texas police officer is being investigated over claims he sexually abused a teenage girl for four years, officers have said.

Sergeant Juan Ruiz-Carrillo, 47, an officer with the San Antonio Police Department for five years, was arrested on Monday night after calling into work sick earlier in the day.

Carillo is accused of sexually assaulting the girl starting when she was 15 and continuing the abuse nearly every week for at least four years, according to an arrest affidavit.

The girl said Carillo forced her to cover up the abuse by threatening to kill himself if she told anyone about it, according to the San Antonio Express News.

The girl told officers the abuse took place while she and her family were guests in Carillo's home, KSAT reports, though it is not clear if they were staying in his house permanently or only visiting.

The alleged abuse was only uncovered after the girl reached out to a pastor at her church on May 1, who informed her parents, who in turn contacted police.

The girl had reached out to a different pastor at her church last year, according to the affidavit.

But instead of informing authorities, the pastor informed the girl's parents and then spent four months counselling Carillo, it is alleged.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Carillo was arrested on Monday following a manhunt when he called in sick to work before his shift 

Police believe the abuse did stop for a while around that time, but started again some time later, prompting the girl to reach out again.

Police say they immediately moved to arrest Carillo, who was due into work on Monday, but called in sick before his shift started.

 Video courtesy of KSAT

That prompted a manhunt which ended Monday night when Carillo was eventually tracked down and taken into custody without incident.

Carillo has now been placed on paid administrative leave while police carry out their investigation. He is being held in Bexar County Jail. 

San Antonio police Chief William McManus said: 'There is no one in this police department that is pleased by this or happy about this. It is an embarrassment to the department. 

'Officers take great pride in their jobs, and no one wants to see an officer who’s been convicted or who’s been involved in something like this remain on the department.' 

McManus added that officers moved against Carillo as soon as possible after learning of the allegations, and he is now in jail and on paid administrative leave pending the results of an investigation