A 34-year-old Maui police officer was arrested on a warrant Monday night after three women said they had been stopped by him and were later sent inappropriate text messages suggesting he would do something for them in exchange for sexual favors.

Officer Brandon Saffeels, who was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for three charges of attempted perjury, first-degree attempted hindering prosecution and witness tampering, was released Tuesday on $50,000 bail. He was apprehended upon his arrival at Kahului Airport, the Maui Police Department said in a news release.

The attorney representing two of the women says Saffeels is a “sexual predator” and a “stalker,” and has women on Maui in fear, “checking their rearview mirror.”

“The man’s a stalker, and he has the uniform, the badge and the gun and he’s allowed to be on the street,” said Michael Green, attorney for two of three women alleging wrongdoing by Saffeels, who has been with MPD four years and most recently with the Wailuku Patrol Division.

The warrant is based on information gathered in an ongoing criminal investigation.

“This guy is an absolute danger to women,” said Green, who objects to him having been released on bail.

Saffeels was placed on leave without pay and had his police authority restricted. He faces criminal and internal investigations.

Saffeels arrested one of the women earlier this year for driving under the influence at 3 o’clock one morning, then invited her to his house that morning and told her to bring a change of clothes.

“He’s gotten away with this before,” Green said, and he suspects Safeels may have arrested women who were afraid and went along with his requests. “I think women went to his house and had sex with him.”

His client alleged he would throw a criminal trial by giving false testimony in exchange for sex.

In 2018 he responded to a 911 call by another woman reporting an assault. That woman also received inappropriate text messages and provided the texts to MPD’s Internal Affairs, according to Hawaii News Now.

Green said MPD failed to act on it, and within a week or two, “he’s back on the street,” Green said.

A third woman told Hawaii News Now she was stopped in 2017. Hours after pulling her over, Saffeels parked his car a few houses away and started texting her even though she had not provided her cellphone number, according to Hawaii News Now.

Green said, “I think the FBI will pull every one of his files where a woman was involved,” referring to any arrests or cases he handled.

“This guy is shameless and puts it in writing,” Green said. “I think there’s a lot of women and he’s done it multiple times.”

Maui police said in a news release that the department received information from an HNN reporter regarding potential abuse of authority within the department, and obtained text messages and voice recordings supporting the allegations.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said Tuesday in a written statement, “Breaches of community trust will not be tolerated. I have every confidence that these allegations of police misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, both criminally and administratively.”

He said the allegations of misconduct “have shaken public confidence in the Maui Police Department. We need to have faith that police officers will serve and protect us — not abuse their authority. … I’m encouraged that the officer has been arrested and charges have been filed.”

Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu released a statement Monday night on the MPD Facebook page, saying, “The Maui community has been devastated by the recent report of inappropriate conduct and abuse of authority by one of my officers,” he said. “I know that many have come to question your trust in the Maui Police Department and, like you, am disappointed in these revelations.”

“We have taken action today,” he said Monday night, announcing Saffeels’ arrest.

“I will not tolerate any misconduct by any of my officers,” he said. “Throughout this investigation, we have to remember there is a process to address all manner of complaints.”

The chief also said, “It is with extreme regret that our community has to face these repulsive acts.”