Former Portland officer arrested, charged

A former Portland police officer is facing two felony charges.

Avon police on Thursday arrested Joshua Clark in connection to an incident last month in which he allegedly tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl.

He was preliminarily charged with child solicitation and attempted child seduction, both Level 4 felonies.

Clark, 36, who had been a Portland police officer since March, was accused of messaging, planning to meet and discussing engaging in sexual conduct with a minor, in a Predator Catchers video posted May 13 to Facebook. He allegedly messaged who he thought to be a 14-year-old girl and set up a meeting with her at an Olive Garden Restaurant. (He was actually messaging the Predator Catchers team.) Predator Catchers said Clark indicated that he was 17.

In the video, he told Predator Catchers when they confronted him that he didn’t believe the “girl” was 14. The team alleged that he asked “her” to delete the text messages in which age was discussed.

“I’m an idiot,” Clark repeated several times through the video.

Portland police suspended him immediately following the incident. He resigned May 19.

Clark is being held in Hendricks County Jail with a $50,000 bond. Portland police assisted Avon police with the investigation.