Osceola County Sheriff's detectives arrested a New York Police Department sergeant and charged him with sexual battery for alleged crimes committed more than 20 years ago.

The incident was reported to law enforcement in October of this year, but further investigations revealed that the crime occurred 24 years ago when the male victim, a relative, was 8-years-old.

The New York City Police Department received a report alleging 48-year-old Eduardo Nieves, of Brooklyn, sexually battered a family member. The New York department began investigating the incident and discovered another similar crime in Osceola County might have occurred involving Nieves, so it contacted the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. Osceola detectives discovered Nieves lived in an apartment complex on Michigan Avenue in 1988 and the sex battery involving the 8-year-old boy occurred sometime between March and June of that year. According to the victim, Nieves touched him inappropriately and sexually battered him on at least six separate incidents.

On Dec. 20, Osceola detectives traveled to New York City to interview Nieves who is currently a sergeant with the New York Police Department assigned to the Manhattan Detention Center. Nieves has been employed with the New York Police Department for 18 years. Initially, Nieves cooperated with the investigation but eventually requested an attorney. Based on the victim's and witnesses' statements, Nieves was charged with six counts of sexual battery and booked into jail. He will be extradited to Osceola County. Florida has no statute of limitations on capital felony crimes.