ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- An officer found himself on the other side of the law Saturday night.
State Special Investigations Officer Timothy Carlson was the target of an investigation by the Albuquerque Police Department that involved prostitutes, extortion and a year of illegal activity.
According to a police report, Carlson had a prostitute in his state-marked car, and it was not the first time.
"I want to assure the public that we are cooperating 100 percent with the Albuquerque Police Department, as we would with any department doing an investigation on one of our employees. We take these allegations very seriously," said Gorden Eden, of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Authorities said Special Investigations is part of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, and they typically investigate liquor license violations and conceal and carry issues.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation has been going on for over a year. Carlson has worked for SID for less than two years.
Authorities said the investigation started on the corner of Moon Street and Central Avenue in 2011 after APD officers said they saw Carlson stop and pick up a prostitute.
At the time, investigators said Carlson told officers the woman was his cousin. The officers were then called to another scene, and Carlson was free to go.
A year later, police said they got a tip from a woman, known as Summer, who said she was with a John when a cop flashed emergency lights and told them to pull over.
The woman told investigators that the officer sent the driver away and put her in his patrol car. Then, the officer, who was wearing his badge and had his gun on his hip, told the woman she was sexy and beautiful and stopped the car in an alley, police said.
The woman told police that she and that officer, who she identified as Carlson, had sex in the back of the officer's car. Summer told police they had intercourse at least three other times.
Police said another prostitute came forward with a similar story.
Last week, police said officers trailed Carlson and Summer, and caught the two in Carlson's patrol car again.
According to the police report, Carlson admitted to police he had sex with Summer several times in the back of his police vehicle, but denied that she was ever in his custody when he did so.
Police said Carlson is facing charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, extortion and demanding or receiving bribes.
Authorities said Carlson is on paid administrative leave and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center without bail.