Officer Christopher Hays Arrested for Sexual Battery

San Diego police Officer Christopher Hays was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of false imprisonment and misdemeanor sexual battery with four women, police officials said.

The District Attorney’s Office is also investigating claims by two more women.

Most of the cases involve claims that Hays inappropriately touched women — all in their 20s or 30s — during pat-down searches of their bodies. However, at a news conference Sunday afternoon, San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne said that at least one of the two new cases involves more serious claims involving sexual contact that could involve felony charges.

 

Hays, 30, surrendered at 1 p.m. Sunday at the sheriff’s substation in Rancho Bernardo and was booked into the downtown jail at 1:30 p.m. He was booked on two counts of false imprisonment and three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery. He was later released on $130,000 bond.

“This officer, if the allegations prove to be true, will go to prison,” Lansdowne said.

If the district attorney charges Hays with the counts that he was arrested on, police said he could face up to 7½ years in prison.

Lansdowne said that four cases were uncovered through an internal investigation after a woman came forward in December to report that she had been inappropriately frisked by an officer. Police detectives checked every case Hays had been involved in since he was hired four years ago, and three more women were found with similar claims involving incidents with Hays that occurred between Nov. 12, 2012, and Dec. 23, 2013. After those four cases were turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, a fifth woman was found through the police investigation.

Following publicity about the Hays investigation, a sixth woman came forward through her attorney on Friday, saying she was contacted by Hays in October 2012 for an unspecified reason and pressured to perform a sex act with him.

Hays has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. No arraignment date has been announced.

Officer John Freudenberg Charged with DWI

Police say an intoxicated Parsippany police officer ran his Chevrolet Silverado off the road and wound up in a residential front yard Saturday.

John R. Freudenberg, 30, of Randolph was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving Saturday night, Randolph police said.

Randolph Sgt. Frank Mygas and Officers Jason Gould and Jason Del Turco responded to the crash, and found the car in the front yard of a Jennifern Avenue home, Randolph police said.

Del Turco spoke to Freudenberg, the driver, and was told he "ran off the road," Randolph police said.

Freudenberg also identified himself as a Parsippany officer, which Randolph police later confirmed, they say.

Randolph Detective Lt. Christopher Giuliani said that based on a draft report about the incident, he didn't have any indication Freudenberg tried to use his status as an officer to avoid a ticket or arrest.

Freudenberg was also off-duty, and was not in a police department vehicle, Giuliani said.
At the time of the crash, Del Turco detected the odor of alcohol on Freudenberg's breath, and had Freudenberg perform field sobriety tests, Randolph Police said. He was then arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Giuliani said while Freudenberg did take a breath test, police are not releasing the results.
Freudenberg's passenger complained of pain, but didn't want to receive medical treatment at the scene, Randolph police said. Freudenberg didn't complain of any injuries, police said.

Parsippany and Randolph, both Morris County communities, share a small border but are mostly divided by sections of Denville and Morris Township.

Former Officer LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd Arrested for Extortion

Former Hazlehurst police officer LaGracha Amon Carter-Boyd has been arrested following a Copiah County Grand Jury indictment on one count of extortion.

Carter-Boyd, 25, of Hazlehurst, was arrested Friday by officers with the Copiah County Sheriff's Office.

The indictment alleges that Boyd, while on duty, accepted money from a citizen on the pretense of "fixing" a ticket that Boyd had previously issued the same citizen.

If convicted, Boyd faces up to five years behind bars.

Officer Scott Neuhaus Charged with Disorderly Conduct

A seven year veteran of the Downingtown Police Department was arrested early Saturday morning following an incident at a Philadelphia gentleman’s club.

According to a brief statement provided by Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxell, around 2:45 a.m. Saturday the Downingtown Police Department’s shift supervisor was notified that officer Scott Neuhaus, 40, was arrested at Delilah’s Gentlemen’s Club and Steakhouse in the 100 block of Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia. The statement said Neuhaus was off duty and in civilian clothes.

According to a docket filed in the Municipal Court of Philadelphia, Neuhaus was charged with one count of disorderly conduct with obscene language or gesture, a summary offense. A status hearing was tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24 in Philadelphia, according to court records.

Downingtown Police Chief James McGowan was immediately advised of the arrest, the statement said, and Neuhaus was placed on paid administrative leave. Maxwell was also notified, the statement said.

“The Downingtown Police Department will be conducting an investigation into the incident and Officer Neuhaus will remain on Administrative Leave until the conclusion of the investigation and any possible proceedings that arise from that investigation,” the statement said.

Maxwell and McGowan declined to comment further on the matter.
Neuhaus previously worked for the Coatesville Police Department.