Patrick Wojahn, the mayor of College Park, Maryland, has been arrested on 56 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced Thursday.

The 47-year-old mayor was identified as the owner of a social media account that had been uploading child pornography in January, police said. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the PGPD of the account on Feb. 17. A little over a week later, the department searched the mayor’s home in College Park and recovered cell phones, a tablet, a computer, and a storage device, according to a PGPD release.

Wojahn was taken into police custody early Thursday morning on 40 counts of possession of child exploitative material and 16 counts of distribution. The investigation is ongoing.

The mayor submitted his letter of resignation late Wednesday evening, and the City of College Park Council released the statement Thursday. He’s served as mayor since 2015.

“It has been a profound honor and privilege to serve the City of College Park since 2007 as a City Councilmember and your Mayor. However, effective immediately, I must resign my position,” Wojahn wrote. “While this investigation does not involve any official city business of any kind, it is in the best interests of our community that I step aside and not serve as a distraction.”

Wojahn said he was cooperating with law enforcement and that he was “eternally grateful” for the well wishes of his supporters. “I am stepping away to deal with my own mental health,” he added.

City Statement on Mayor Wojahn's Resignation: https://t.co/43OLc52gIt

— City of College Park (@CollegePark_MD) March 2, 2023

In a statement, the City Council named councilmember Denise Mitchell as mayor pro tem. The city must hold a special election within 65 days to select a mayor, who will hold the office until the November general election.