Cop accused of seeking genitals photo in sexting probe kills himself as he is arrested
A Virginia police detective accused of seeking a photo of a teen’s erect penis in a sexting probe killed himself on Tuesday as officers tried to arrest him on molestation charges.
Police were trying to arrest Manassas detective David Edward Abbott, 39, on charges of indecent liberties by a custodian and use of a communication device to solicit a sexual offense, report the Associated Press and the Washington Post. Police said the charges stem from Abbott’s interactions with two 13-year-old boys he met while coaching hockey.
After a four-hour standoff with police, Abbott emerged from his townhouse, spoke with officers, and shot himself.
Abbott was a member of an Internet crimes against children task force.
Abbott had filed a defamation suit against a lawyer who told the Washington Post in July 2014 that Abbott had sought a warrant to get a photo of the erect penis of her 17-year-old client, a suspect in a sexting case. The plan to compare photos of the teen’s genitalia with images from the sexts was never executed, though the teen was photographed while naked.
Abbott’s suit argued the lawyer mischaracterized his conduct. He withdrew the suit in November.
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