An Arizona deputy was arrested on kidnapping charges and booted from the sheriff's department that's leading the months-long Nancy Guthrie investigation.
Ex-Pima County deputy Travis Reynolds, 22, was detained on Thursday and accused of kidnapping a detainee whom he was transporting to the Pima County Jail.
The Tucson Police Department charged him with one count of kidnapping in connection with alleged misconduct that reportedly occurred while he was on duty,' according to a police statement obtained by Fox.
Following his arrest and given the serious nature of the allegations, Reynolds's employment with the Pima County Sheriff's Office was immediately terminated.
'The Tucson Police Department notified the Pima County Sheriff’s Department of the arrest, and the employee was terminated,' the sheriff's office confirmed.
Officials declined to clarify whether Reynolds was involved in the Nancy Guthrie investigation prior to his termination.
The ousted staffer refused to take the female inmate into the jail for two hours, instead forcing her to sit outside in his cruiser, officials said.
He allegedly made inappropriate comments about her appearance, according to a complaint obtained by KOLD.
Travis Reynolds, 22, was arrested Thursday after allegedly kidnapping a female inmate
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has been spearheading the investigation into Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, Nancy (right)
Reynolds allegedly told the inmate she was 'hot' and a 'MILF,' reported 12News.
While in the transport vehicle, he allegedly offered the prisoner his vape pen and told her that he could 'help her with her case.'
'He also stated they could go to a hotel and have sex,' read the complaint, but denied her request to be taken inside.
'She said she saw multiple officers coming and going with their arrestees, and she was wondering why she was still in the vehicle,' the report added.
The victim accused him of showing her sexually explicit videos and telling her to show him her breasts.
It was only after she exposed her bra that Reynolds removed the inmate from the car and brought her inside, the complaint alleged.
Surveillance footage from Pima County Jail corroborated her accounts.
Reynolds reportedly told investigators that 'he may or may not have been involved in showing her a video of sexual acts.'
Reynolds was transporting a female inmate to the Pima County Jail when the alleged incident occurred
The Pima County Sheriff's Office released a statement announcing Reynolds' termination. Reynolds is not pictured
'He also stated he may or may not have been involved in the discussion of having sex at a hotel,' read the report.
Reynolds appeared in court on Friday.
According to the defense, the alleged victim was intimidated by the ex-deputy because of the 'power dynamic between him and the victim.'
'The victim in this case is very afraid of this defendant because of the power position that he had, of the power dynamics and that he might retaliate against her,' said the prosecution.
The defense argued that Reynolds does not have prior criminal history and has been a resident of Arizona his entire life.
The investigation is 'still active and ongoing,' police said.
The judge set Reynolds's bond at $200,000. He was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. The accused was also given a prohibition on weapons.
Reynolds is scheduled to appear in court again on April 6.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and his team have come under fire for the way they have handled the Guthrie investigation
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has been heavily involved in the case and has come under fire for the way Sheriff Chris Nanos has handled the case.
Still, Nanos told the press he had 'no regrets' about his team's decisions.
The sheriff brushed off allegations that he mishandled the crime scene at the 84-year-old's Tucson home or botched the case, appearing to blame huge media attention for confusing the investigation.
'I don’t regret we let the crime scene go too soon or any of that,' he said. 'That's just silly.'
The Daily Mail contacted the Tucson Police Department and the Pima County Sheriff's Office for comment.
