SF
officer arrested on suspicion of molesting boy
A San Francisco police officer
was arrested by Concord police on suspicion of molesting a 15-year-old boy
while off duty, authorities said.
Richard Hastings III, 37, was
arrested Aug. 21, said Concord police Lt. David Hughes, and booked on suspicion
of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, sodomy with a child and contributing
to the delinquency of a minor. He posted bail and was released.
Contra Costa County prosecutors
reviewed the case and sent it back to Concord police for more investigation,
said Senior Deputy District Attorney Nancy Georgiou.
Harry Stern, an attorney for
Hastings, said, "This was a consensual relationship. Rich Hastings was
specifically told and reasonably believed that the other person was of
age."
Hastings has been a San
Francisco police officer since 2001. He was suspended without pay on the day of
his arrest, said Officer Albie Esparza, a San Francisco police spokesman.