SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Eric Moutsos, former Salt Lake City police officer and friend of Tim Ballard, told 2News on Wednesday he's spoken to six women who accused Ballard of sexual misconduct -- and believes they are telling the truth.

"You know when you know," said Moutsos, now a podcaster. "With my law enforcement background, I've interviewed hundreds and hundreds of people, and I know when a victim is speaking."

Moutsos was a high profile opponent of forcing people to take COVID-19 vaccines, and of health mandates during the pandemic. He also helped organize a "Night of Liberty" to burn a model of a giant syringe outdoors in central Utah.

And until a short time ago, he was all in---in supporting Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad---the anti-human trafficking organization made famous in the hit summer movie 'Sound of Freedom."

"I was actively defending him, and his movie and everything," said Moutsos, "until I was presented with these truths."

Asked if he were still a police officer, would he recommend criminal charges against Ballard, Moutsos replied, "Absolutely, without question."

Moutsos said some of the women told Ballard "to stop, stop doing this, stop, as he continued with his sexual predatory behavior."

Ballard has labeled as "false" the accusations against him.

"We are under attack," Ballard said on Instagram. "The work to rescue children who are being abused in the worst way around the world, is under attack by all sorts of falsehoods, false accusations, and everything else when you're fighting against evil."

Ballard said his wife prompted him to post the message.

"I am faithful to my wife and my God," he said, "and that is the truth."

But Moutsos said some of Ballard's accusers have told him "there are days they just don't want to exist."

Moutsos organized "an event" with Ballard, and shared a photo of the two of them together a couple of years ago looking fit and smiling, but now Moutsos is urging people to read two lawsuits filed against his old friend.

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