A Roanoke Rapids police investigator was arrested Thursday for allegations he had and transmitted material showing child sexual abuse, according to a news release from the city.

The Roanoke Rapids Police Department said the FBI contacted them on Tuesday about the allegations against Isaac Nielsen.

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Nielsen, 31, is charged with the distribution and possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 30 years of imprisonment.

According to the complaint, in May 2025, an undercover officer engaged in a chat with a user on a website known for promoting user-generated sexual content. During the conversations, Nielsen allegedly distributed child pornography to the undercover officer and discussed his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children.

The undercover officer’s agency determined that the user was located in North Carolina and notified the FBI. On Monday, the FBI identified Nielsen as the user, obtained an arrest warrant and arrested him.

City Attorney Geoffrey Davis said of Nielsen’s current employment status, “Procedurally, he’s on unpaid leave right now, at this moment, but I expect that status to change once the procedural aspects of the personnel matter are concluded.”

“The RRPD and the City of Roanoke Rapids treat allegations of misconduct by law enforcement officers with the highest degree of seriousness and are cooperating fully with federal officials,” the city’s release said.

The city added, “In addition to a criminal matter, this situation is also a city personnel matter. Like any personnel matter, the city must handle it according to NC law and our own internal policies and procedures.”

Executive Director of SAFEchild Advocacy Group, Cristin DeRonja, calls the charges disturbing.  

“It’s disappointing in a different way because law-enforcement is legally responsible for protecting children and particularly when they are victimized by abuse," DeRonja said.

DeRonja told WRAL it's important for parents to realize that you never know who is capable of committing crimes against children.

“There is no one profile of offenders of children. And it’s very important to realize that," DeRonja said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel is prosecuting the case, and the FBI Raleigh Durham Child Exploitation Task Force is investigating the case.