By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Alabaster Police Department has arrested a 29-year-old Pelham man, a Shelby County Department of Human Resources employee, and charged him with allegedly having “inappropriate sexual contact” with an adult DHR client.

Police arrested Brandon Howard Daniel, of Pelham, with counts of soliciting for purpose of influencing official action, indecent exposure, harassment and theft of property.

He is currently in the Shelby County Jail under a $40,000 bond.

“The investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be pending,” Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney wrote in a release.

The investigation started the morning of Aug. 21 when an adult female filed a complaint claiming her DHR case worker had inappropriate sexual contact with her during a home visit, according to Alabaster police.

“Today we executed a search warrant at the offices of DHR in Columbiana. Evidence was collected and will be analyzed to determine its connection to this case,” Rigney wrote. “We would like to thank the Columbiana Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and DHR for their assistance with this investigation.”

On the morning of Aug. 22, Alabaster and Columbiana officers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies closed off access while police searched the Shelby County DHR office in Columbiana.

“We are searching the building right now. We’ve basically got them shut down,” Rigney said at about 8:30 a.m.