Authorities arrested a former Austin firefighter Monday night who was seen in a video discussing how he paid for pictures of a woman's naked child.
The Austin Fire Department identified the man in the video as Erik Spalteholtz.
Spalteholtz is charged with possession of child porn and tampering with evidence for allegedly trying to get rid of his phone and hard drive, officials told KVUE Wednesday. According to arrest documents, investigators found at least 300 clips of child porn on memory cards at his home.
Sources confirmed to KVUE that Spalteholtz is currently in the Blanco County Jail and is being held on a $100,000 bond. Here is his mugshot:
Spalteholz retired from the department on April 23, according to a department spokesperson.
Police said they were tipped off about Spalteholz after a woman went to the Austin Police headquarters to make a report that she was suspicious of his behaviors and that she believes he is attracted to her daughter. Officials said the woman handed over digital recordings of conversations between her and Spalteholz. In them, she said she confronted him about child pornography.
Austin Firefighters Association president Bob Nicks told KVUE he found out about the video on April 25, two days after Spaltehoz retired.
According to documents obtained by KVUE on April 30, police were granted search warrants for the three memory devices taken from Spalteholz.
AFD gave KVUE the following statement Tuesday regarding Spalteholz's arrest:
“The allegations against Mr. Spalteholz are shocking, and most definitely not in alignment with the values of the Austin Fire Department, nor the men and women who serve the citizens of Austin every day. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.”
–Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr