Benjamin Dessalines
A woman told the Sheriff's Office that, after she was caught shoplifting, that Chattanooga Police Officer Benjamin Dessalines took her to his house and sexually assaulted her.
Dessalines was arrested on sexual assault charges.
The woman said the shoplifting was Nov. 8 at a Food City. She said she was caught by a loss prevention specialist, who turned her over to Dessalines, who was working off duty.
She said he told her to tell her ride to leave and he would take her home when he got off work in 45 minutes.
The woman said he took her to an apartment near UTC. She said when they got inside he came up behind her and put his hands on her breasts and then down her thighs.
She said he said he wanted to have sex with her, but she declined. She said he told her he liked the fact she was a black woman with straight hair.
The officer finally took her home, she said. On the way he was displaying a gun. She said when he drove down an alley she thought he was going to kill her. She said a vehicle came in the opposite direction and he worried it might be a police officer.
She said he told her not to tell anyone what happened, saying she had more to lose than he did.
Sheriff's detectives said the woman was able to give an accurate description of the officer's apartment.
The Chattanooga Police Department opened an an internal investigation into the allegation of misconduct involving an officer in CPD's Neighborhood Policing Bureau. CPD launched the Internal Affairs investigation after the victim filed a report with CPD’s Special Victims Unit on Tuesday.
Officials said, "Due to the victim’s statement identifying the suspect as a CPD officer and to remove any suggestion regarding a conflict of interest, CPD immediately turned over the criminal investigation to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office per the direction of the Hamilton County District Attorney. CPD relieved Dessalines of duty on Wednesday. He will remain on administrative leave until a final disposition in the Internal Affairs investigation is reached."
On Thursday, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dessalines on charges of felony kidnapping and felony sexual battery. He was placed in custody at the Hamilton County Jail.
“There are hundreds of Chattanooga Police Officers who do great work every day to uphold the mission of the Chattanooga Police Department and build trust with community members,” said Chief David Roddy. “Investigations into conduct of this magnitude are the result of choices and actions of a few and do not represent the values of the department and the many officers who serve the Chattanooga community.”
The CPD Internal Affairs investigation is separate from the criminal investigation being conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Dessalines was hired by CPD in 2016.