A former Gardena city councilman was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child molestation, authorities said.

The 47-year-old Oscar Medrano resigned Tuesday night from his position by sending a resignation letter to the City Council, claiming health problems.

“Due to the ongoing, unpredictable health problems that I'm experiencing, it has become very apparent to me that I am no longer able to serve in my current council member capacity,” he said, as quoted by Daily Breeze.

In an interview with the above mentioned newspaper, Medrano said that he has been suffering from degenerative disc disease for three years. He underwent surgeries to replace vertebrae and fuse his spine.

Medrano has been managing a family business, Osmar Jewelry, since 1992. He was arrested at the jewelry store at 9:30 a.m., said Sgt. Dan Scott of the Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Bureau. His arrest came after a two-week investigation of lewd and lascivious conduct with a girl under 14.

He was booked at the Carson sheriff’s station jail. Later he was transferred to the inmate reception center in downtown Los Angeles. His bail was set on $100,000. Medrano has not been charged yet.

Medrano is married and is the father of five children. He was elected to the City Council in 2003 and served as mayor pro tem in 2006. Medrano’s cousin Ed Medrano is Gardena’s chief of police; therefore the Sheriff’s Department led the investigation to avoid any misunderstandings.