2nd victim alleges sexual assault by DC officer

WUSA
March 18, 2015

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2015/03/18/darrell-best-police-officer-pastor-accused-of-sex-abuse/24946727/

Darrell Best

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A second alleged victim has come forward in the case of a D.C. police officer and local pastor who is accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl.

Officer Darrell Best faces four counts, including first-degree sex abuse while armed.

One teen says Best forced himself on her in an office inside D.C. police headquarters.

The two victims say Best was armed when he sexually assaulted them and they tried desperately to get him to stop.

Best is not just a cop; he's also a youth minister. The younger teen, who is just 16, says he called her out of choir practice and repeatedly pushed her down on his desk and sexually assaulted her.

Best is a 25 year veteran of the police force, and he's from the troubled class of 1989-1990. That class that has seen several of its members accused of criminal acts, including sexual abuse of minors. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says she is "disturbed" and "disheartened" by the allegations against Best.

Investigators say one of the teens led them to an office connected to Best at headquarters, described the pictures on the wall, and burst into tears when they took her inside.

Best lawyer declined to comment on the allegations. One of his supporters outside the courthouse declined to give her name, but insisted the officer was "a wonderful person."

Police are trying to determine if there are any more victims.

The cop will be held in jail at least until another hearing on Thursday, where he may try to make bail.