A seven-year member of the Chester Police Department used his authority to coerce female detainees into sex acts, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan announced on Thursday, March 10.
Roosevelt Turner, 37, of Chester, has been charged with indecent assault, official oppression, and indecent exposure charges, Whelan said in a press release.
Turner was arrested Thursday morning by detectives with the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and video-arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Diane Holefelder, who set bail at 10 percent of $25,000, the release said.
The investigation, led by was conducted by Sgt. John Kelly of the Delaware County CID Special Investigations Unit, surfaced after females reported that Roosevelt mistreated them in a sexual manner while they were in custody in 2015 at the Chester Police Department.
One woman interviewed by Kelly said Turner made suggestive comments, asked for nude photos of her, and told her to move away from the view of the camera because he wanted to have sex with her. She said he was putting on a condom when he heard a buzzer, “fixed himself and regained his physical composure,” the release said.
Another alleged victim said Turner repeatedly asked to see her underwear and private area. She said she relented, thinking the process would go faster, and later received a 3 a.m. text message from Turner, who wanted more contact with her.
A third victim said Turner refused to complete her paperwork if she didn’t expose herself to him; she said she received a Facebook message from him later that said: “Wow! Thanks for the enjoyable time,” the release said.
Whelan commended Kelly and the members of the Criminal Investigation Division for their work on the case.
“Officer Roosevelt used his position of authority to coerce and intimidate these women into acts for his own sexual gratification,” Whelan said in the release. “His behavior is extremely offensive. As a police officer, he took an oath to serve and protect the residents of Chester, and for that reason we hold him to a higher standard of conduct.”
Chester Police Commissioner Darren Alston said Roosevelt was suspended from his duties. “We take any allegation of misconduct seriously,” Alston said in the release. “We will work with the District Attorney’s Office and CID throughout the entire investigation.”
Roosevelt was released on bail with the condition that he avoid any contacts with the victims. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, court records said. Anyone with information or believes they may have been victimized is urged to contact Kelly at 610-891-4851.
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