A 22-year-old former deputy sheriff in Pima County has been arrested and charged with kidnapping after authorities say he abducted a handcuffed woman he was transporting to jail. The case comes as the department faces ongoing scrutiny over its handling of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Travis Reynolds appeared in a Pima County, Arizona, courtroom after being taken into custody by the Tucson Police Department and charged with one count of kidnapping. A judge set his bond at $200,000, ordered that he refrain from contacting the alleged victim, and prohibited him from possessing weapons. His next court appearance, a preliminary hearing, is scheduled for April 6.
“The Tucson Police Department did arrest 22-year-old Travis Reynolds, a former Pima County Sheriff’s deputy, and charged him with one count of kidnapping in connection with alleged misconduct that reportedly occurred while he was on duty,” the department told Fox News Digital.
The department added that the investigation “is still active and ongoing,” declining to release further details. “The Tucson Police Department notified the Pima County Sheriff’s Department of the arrest, and the employee was terminated,” the agency noted further in a statement. “We don’t have any additional information to provide.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Reynolds was terminated following his arrest. The development adds to mounting concerns about the agency, which has already been under intense public scrutiny in connection with a high-profile missing persons investigation.
According to an interim complaint obtained by KOLD, Travis Reynolds was transporting a female detainee to the Pima County Jail when he allegedly made inappropriate comments about her appearance.
The complaint states that Reynolds shared a vape device with the handcuffed woman and told her he could “help” her case, allegedly suggesting they go to a hotel and engage in sexual activity. Investigators further allege that Reynolds showed the detainee sexually explicit videos and delayed booking her into the jail while other detainees were being processed.
The woman told investigators she felt intimidated due to Reynolds’ position as a law enforcement officer and the power dynamic involved. She also indicated the encounter may not have been an isolated incident, according to statements presented in court.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department canned one of its deputies after he was arrested on a kidnapping charge.
This is the same department investigating Nancy Guthrie's abduction. pic.twitter.com/vRiu4aw4sh
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 27, 2026
During his initial court appearance, prosecutors described the allegations as “very, very concerning,” citing Reynolds’ role and the imbalance of authority between him and the alleged victim. They also noted indications that similar conduct may have occurred previously.
Prosecutors told the court that the alleged victim is “very afraid” of Travis Reynolds and raised concerns about possible retaliation.
Authorities allege that Reynolds removed the woman from the vehicle during transport and instructed her to expose herself before later bringing her into the jail. Investigators said surveillance video from the facility corroborated portions of her account. According to the complaint, Reynolds told investigators he “may or may not” have shown explicit material or discussed sexual activity with the detainee.
Reynolds’ defense attorney said he has no prior criminal history and is a lifelong Arizona resident. A judge set his bond at $200,000, ordered no contact with the alleged victim, and prohibited him from possessing weapons. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on April 6, Fox reported.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has also been involved in the search for Nancy Guthrie. When asked whether Travis Reynolds had any role in that investigation before his termination, officials declined to comment.
Authorities also refrained from disclosing further information about Reynolds’ employment history or any previous complaints filed against him.
“Today,” anchor Savannah Guthrie expressed last week in her first on-air interview, “my family is in ‘agony,’” following her mother being reported missing after being taken from her Arizona home on February 1.
“Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony, we are in agony,” a tearful Guthrie told co-host Hoda Kotb on Wednesday.
