A grand jury has indicted former hero Philadelphia Police Officer Richard DeCoatsworth in his rape and assault case.
DeCoatsworth has been indicted with 13 crimes including rape, trafficking of persons, promoting prostitution, witness intimidation and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The 27-year-old had previously been charged with 32 crimes in three related cases.
DeCoatsworth allegedly made two women take drugs and perform oral sex on him at gunpoint on May 18. Two weeks earlier, the former officer allegedly forced one of the women into prostitution at a Days Inn motel in the Lawncrest section of Philadelphia. He was also charged with assaulting his live-in girlfriend in an incident on May 9.
DeCoatsworth is being held at the Philadelphia Detention Center on $60 million bail. His attorney, L. Geroge Parry, has petitioned the court to release text messages from DeCoatsworth’s cell phone in an effort to reduce the high bail. Parry says the text messages will show the full extent of the former officer’s relationships with all parties involved.
Prosecutors argued DeCoatsworth is a flight risk at a court hearing Monday. That hearing was continued until next Monday.
DeCoatsworth was shot in the face during a September 2007 traffic stop. After being shot, he chased the suspect for some time before collapsing. Police say he was able to radio enough information about the shooter for other officers to nab him.
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He was honored for his heroism in 2008 with a Top Cop award and sat next to First Lady Michelle Obama during President Barack Obama’s first address to congress at the U.S. Capitol.
DeCoatsworth left the Philadelphia Police force on disability in December 2011.
