SPOKANE,
Wash. -
A
former Colville Police Officer has been arrested in Chelan County and charged
with Rape of a Child in the First Degree. Scott L. Arms was booked into the
Chelan County jail, his bail set at $25,000. As of Wednesday morning, he had
been released.
According
to court documents, the alleged victim told her middle school counselor about
the incident she says took place at a Wenatchee home in January. The alleged
victim then relayed the same story to investigators with the Chelan County
Sheriff's Office. She says she was watching a Seahawks game with Arms when he
sexually assaulted her.
According
to court documents, the young woman told investigators that she didn't come
forward because she was "very fearful and did not know what to do,
especially since Arms was a police officer." At the time of the alleged
incident, Arms was a Colville Police Officer. Court records show the girl told
police she came forward in April because she found out Arms was quitting his
job in Colville and was going to be in Wenatchee more often.
When
confronted about the incident, Arms told investigators he wasn't sure about the
allegations, but knew they had something to do with unwanted touching. Court
documents show he told police, "I don't know if I pinched her butt or
what."
Arms
told police he has a good relationship with the girl, believes she's an honest young woman and
doesn't lie. When asked why he thought she would make these allegations, Arms
responded, "Because she has a crush on me." The victim said she liked
Arms "and didn't want to see him get in any trouble... but she does not
want to be alone with him anymore."
The
alleged victim's mother, who has a personal relationship with Arms, told police
she believes her daughter is making up the allegations. But, according to the
investigator on the case "school personnel, friends, her brother and her
neighbor say [she] is a very well adjusted and honest young woman." Court
documents cite several people as saying, "If she said it happened, then it
happened."
Arms
was arrested Monday and booked into the Chelan County Jail on child rape
charges. He's been ordered to stay at least 300 feet away from the alleged
victim at all times. He'll be in court to enter a plea on May 19.
Colville
Police Chief Robert Meshishnek said Arms resigned from the police department on
April 30.