A 21-year-old man who worked as an afterschool care counselor at a charter school in Pembroke Pines was arrested Wednesday, accused of downloading and possessing child pornography, police said.
Douglas J. Chin, of Pembroke Pines, was immediately suspended from his part-time job at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary FSU Campus, Pembroke Pines Police said Wednesday in a news release.
Police said they do not have any evidence to suggest Chin had any “inappropriate contact” with students, but they encourage parents to talk to their children about any possible contact.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task force received a complaint that Chin had downloaded child pornography, the news release said. Police did not say when they received the complaint.
Officers executed a search warrant Wednesday at Chin’s home for electronic devices and found “numerous explicit images and videos of child pornography” with children between ages 3 and 14, the news release said.
Additional details about the investigation were not available Wednesday night.
The school’s principal did not respond to an email seeking comment after business hours Wednesday.
The elementary school serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade with a total enrollment of about 700, according to a 2022-23 Schoolwide Improvement Plan on the school’s website.
Chin was booked into the Broward Main Jail on Wednesday evening on 12 charges.
Parents or students can call a counselor or student assistance program therapist at 954-499-4244. Authorities ask anyone who may have additional information related to Chin to contact Special Victims Unit Det. Ralph Rienzo at rrienzo@ppines.com or at 954-743-1616.