An Isanti police officer sent a lewd photo to a 13-year-old girl through Snapchat and — after her friend saw it — told her to say it was not his, according to charges filed Tuesday.

Nicholas Irvin Martell, 30, of Isanti, was arrested Sunday and charged with one count of distributing via electronic communication sexually explicit material to children. He’s being held at the Anoka County jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.

Nicholas Irvin Martell (Courtesy of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Department)

Martell was hired by the Isanti Police Department as an officer on Feb. 27, 2023. He was put on administrative leave Sunday, when the city learned of his arrest and the allegations, City Administrator Josi Wood said Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Isanti County District Court:

The girl’s father contacted law enforcement on Saturday to report that his friend, Martell, had sent a penis photo to his daughter on July 27.

Law enforcement interviewed the girl, who initially was reluctant to discuss her communications or relationship with Martell. She ultimately said that prior to sending the photo, Martell had asked her if she wanted to “see it.” After sending the photo, Martell asked the girl if she “liked it.”

The next day, Martell apologized for sending the photo and asked her not to tell anyone.

The girl sent Martell a message letting him know that one of her friend’s had seen the photo and that her friend was upset. Martell messaged the girl through Snapchat, telling her that she “needs to call me alone.” She called Martell and her friend recorded the conversation. At the beginning of the call he asked if she was alone and then asked her to tell the friend that it was a “different Nick” who sent the photo.

Martell then pleaded with the girl, saying that he could go to prison because of the photo. The girl ended the call, telling him that her sister was coming upstairs. He later messaged the girl and asked when they could talk again.

Law enforcement examined the girl’s cellphone and Martell’s and have requested search warrants from Snapchat to conduct a forensic analysis, “but from what was presently viewable,” the complaint states, “it is clear that the communication was far more extensive than initially disclosed by (the girl) both on the day the photograph was sent and in the days and months prior.”

Isanti Police Chief Travis Muyres said in a Tuesday statement that he is “disheartened” with the criminal charges against Martell, adding the alleged conduct “does not represent the standards of the Isanti Police Department, nor the commitment of our law enforcement officers to serve and protect the residents of our community. The trust of our community is of utmost importance, and we will not tolerate any conduct that undermines that trust.”

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