Multnomah County corrections deputy accused of sexual abuse of women in custody

A Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputy has been accused of sexually abusing two women while they were in custody.

Edwin Diaz, 54, was arrested on Thursday after a grand jury charged him with multiple counts of second-degree sexual abuse, first-and second-degree custodial sexual misconduct and first-degree official misconduct, court records and a statement from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office show.

Diaz’s arrest comes days after a Multnomah County corrections deputy was

arrested on allegations that she smuggled drugs into a county jail.

Sheriff’s detectives started investigating Diaz, who worked in the downtown detention center, in October 2024 after a person in custody submitted an anonymous note that Diaz was engaging in “inappropriate conduct” with women in custody, sheriff’s officials said.

The sheriff’s office asked the Portland Police Bureau to lead the investigation in order to avoid conflicts of interest and Diaz went on administrative leave, sheriff’s officials said.

Investigators identified one woman whom Diaz allegedly abused, sheriff’s officials said. But she had already been released from custody and couldn’t be found. As a result, sheriff’s officials said there wasn’t enough evidence to continue an investigation against Diaz at the time.

The sheriff’s office reinstated Diaz on Jan. 27, but Diaz took paid personal leave the following day, according to the sheriff’s office. Diaz remained on paid leave until his arrest, when his leave was converted to unpaid administrative leave, spokesperson Chris Liedle said.

In March 2025, the woman was booked into jail again, and detectives were able to interview her about Diaz’s alleged abuse, officials said. Around the same time, the Oregon Department of Corrections alerted the sheriff’s office to another person whom Diaz had allegedly abused while she was in custody, sheriff’s officials said.

The alleged abuse occurred over “several months” in 2024, sheriff’s officials said.

“Any abuse of power by those in positions of authority, such as the conduct Diaz is accused of, not only causes direct harm, but also undermines the integrity of our organization and is a violation of public trust,” Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said in a statement. “I commend the victims for their courage in coming forward. We are committed to full accountability and transparency, and I trust the criminal justice system to pursue these allegations with the seriousness it demands.”

Investigators said they believe Diaz may have abused other people and ask anyone with information to email sheriff’s office Detective Dylan Lerch at

dylan.lerch@mcso.us

, Portland police Detective Jordan Zaitz at

jordan.zaitz@police.portlandoregon.gov

, or call the sheriff’s office anonymous tip line at 503-988-0560.

— Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313.

Latest Public Safety News

Search team finds body of missing Oregon man at bottom of 300-foot cliff

This travel hack lets you explore Oregon’s coastline without the nightmare of parking
2 motorcyclists die in separate Washington state wrecks
2-alarm fire in NW sends up black smoke
Man arrested in Portland apartment fire