Correction: As we first suspected, RPD Officer Charles Church was actually charged with “sodomy of a juvenile,” not sodomy as
Correction: As we first suspected, RPD Officer Charles Church was actually charged with “sodomy of a juvenile,” not sodomy as Virginia’s sodomy law was struck from the books last year.
RVAMag received a phone call from RPD confirming the incorrect charge after we asked them about the original wording of the release.
Below is the rest of the statement from RPD with the correction made:
——-
The Richmond Police Department has arrested an RPD officer; Charles Church, 39, of the 1400 block of W. Marshall St., for a sexual assault that occurred Monday in the city.
The Department was made aware of the assault last evening. After a brief investigation, detectives took Church into custody this morning near his residence. Both the incident and the arrest occurred while he was off-duty.
Church has been charged with two counts of sodomy of a juvenile, both felonies.
“It is unfortunate to have to arrest one of our fellow officers,” said RPD Chief Alfred Durham. “But it is our job to enforce the law and bring those responsible for committing criminal acts to justice even if it’s one of my own.”
Church has been an RPD officer for twelve years; most recently assigned to Third Precinct. He has been placed on administrative leave without pay.
The investigation is ongoing. The Department will not be doing interviews.
A booking photo is not yet available.
———-
