Banning Police Officer Resigns After Felony Arrest

BANNING, CA — A former Banning Police Officer was arrested this month on suspicion of distributing harmful matter to a minor and using an underage person for obscene material, but he has been released from custody after posting bail.

Christopher John Sayeski, 38, was arrested by Riverside County Sheriff's investigators at approximately 8:24 a.m. on Feb. 3. The arrest location was S. Hargrave Street, according to jail records.

Sayeski was booked into Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility but was released the same day in lieu of $10,000 bail, jail records show.

Court records were unavailable, but jail information shows Sayeski is due to appear in court on March 21.

Following his arrest, Sayeski resigned on Feb. 11 from the Banning Police Department, according to the department.

"The Banning Police Department is fully cooperating with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office in their investigation of this matter," the Banning Police Department said in a news release. "The Banning Police Department remains committed to the uncompromised integrity of its officers and it will take all appropriate actions to ensure the public's trust in its law enforcement agency."