A suspect is in custody after a report that a Ponderosa High School student was sexually assaulted by a school district security employee on campus.

A news release from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office stated it received a report alleging the assault at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Ponderosa. Detectives interviewed the victim and made an arrest shortly thereafter.

The suspect was identified as Gary Postell, 49, a Douglas County School District campus security specialist. The Castle Rock resident was immediately taken into custody at his residence and booked in the Douglas County Detentions Center on suspicion of sex assault on a child by one in a position of trust. He was being held on $5,000 bond as of Nov. 29.

Postell has been placed on paid leave by the school district. He has been with the school district since 2014 and underwent a background check before being hired, a DCSD spokeswoman said.

"We are working closely with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office as they investigate this allegation. The staff member will not be allowed back at Ponderosa, pending the results of the investigation," Ponderosa High School Principal David Haggerty said in a letter to students and parents. "We do not tolerate inappropriate staff conduct toward our students and we take this matter seriously. We cannot discuss the specifics of an incident or disciplinary action that may be taken due to privacy laws and the law enforcement investigation."

Postell had recently been recognized by the school district for "outstanding work."

"Gary is always promoting individual student responsibility in our school," the district wrote on its website in early November. "He has a great personality that demonstrates interpersonal skills that relate well with students, staff, administration, and parents. Each and every day of the week knowing he is not working not just as a campus security specialist but as someone who truly cares for our student's safety and security."

In his position as security specialist at Ponderosa, an unarmed position, Postell provided "additional security in various areas of the school," the district spokeswoman said. District security also includes school resource officers and a team of armed security personnel who visit various schools throughout the day.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Williamson at 303-814-7005 or mwilliam@dcsheriff.net.