37-year-old Matthew Beebe of Sherrills Ford was arrested Wednesday (August 2) by Mooresville Police Officers. He’s charged with four felony counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to published reports, Beebe, a former Mooresville Police officer, was arrested and terminated. The reports say investigators found child pornography on his personal cell phone.

Investigators reportedly found sexually explicit images of minors on the suspect’s phone after obtaining a search warrant as part of a criminal investigation. That probe was launched following a complaint that Beebe had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred over a three or four year period.

The charges filed against Beebe on Wednesday are not related to the sexual misconduct allegations. A multi-agency investigation into those allegations is ongoing. More charges are possible.

Beebe was an eleven year veteran who worked in the patrol division. He was suspended last Friday (July 28). He was notified Wednesday that he had been terminated.

Mooresville Police and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office are conducting the ongoing investigation. The minor child has been interviewed at Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center. According to the published reports, District Attorney Sarah Kirkman’s Office has requested a special prosecutor handle this case.

Beebe was arrested at his home in Sherrills Ford on Wednesday and was later released from the Iredell County Detention Center after posting a $60,000 bond. A District Court date is August 24.

[Some information for this story and photo of Matthew Beebe courtesy of iredellfreenews.com]