EX-HERO COP RICHARD DECOATSWORTH A ‘JUNKIE,’ HIS LAWYER SAYS

PFMLIT General, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST

Philly.com/Joseph A. Slobodzian
6/19/12
Richard DeCoatsworth, a 27 year old former Philadelphia police officer once hailed as a heroand given a seat next to the first lady at a speech by President Obama, has been arrested andcharged with rape and other crimes.  DeCoatsworth allegedly left a party with two females andtook them to another location where they allege that he produced a handgun and forced the twofemales to engage in the used of narcotics and sexual acts.  The District Attorney's Officesaid Tuesday an indicting grand jury has charged Richard DeCoatsworth with Rape, InvoluntaryDeviate Sexual Intercourse, Trafficking of Persons, Sexual Assault, Indecent Assault, PromotingProstitution, Witness Intimidation, Possession with Intent to Distribute Terroristic Threats,Possession of an Instrument of a Crime (PIC), Impersonating a Public Servant, and Possession ofDrug Paraphernalia. His bail was set at $60 million.
DeCoatsworth was hailed as a hero after he was shot in the face during a traffic stop inSeptember 2007 but still managed to chase after his attacker, who was later sentenced to 36 to 72years in prison.
The lawyer for Richard DeCoatsworth told a Philadelphia judge Monday that the former heropolice officer is a junkie who abused narcotics prescribed because of his service-related gunshotwound.
But L. George Parry insisted that DeCoatsworth, 27, is not dangerous and deserves to havehis $60 million bail lowered for allegedly raping and holding captive two women.
Parry said the women are demonstrable liars and were prostitutes before meetingDeCoatsworth.
(Philadelphia)