Overview

• Felipe Gomes, a Brazilian national, was arrested on April 22, 2025, for alleged rape under California Penal Code 261(a)(1), involving a victim unable to consent.
• Gomes was hired by the Belmont Police Department in December 2023 after a 2022 California law removed the U.S. citizenship requirement for law enforcement officers.
• Prior to his hiring, Gomes had been rejected by two other agencies due to a 2017 domestic violence arrest, though charges were dropped at the time.
• Belmont Police terminated Gomes the day after his arrest, and he was released from San Mateo County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
• The incident has reignited scrutiny over the vetting process for noncitizen recruits and the broader implications of California's 2022 policy change.