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A former Williamsport City police officer has been arraigned on charges related to alleged misconduct, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Eric Derr, 36, of 6629 state Route 973 W, Cogan Station, is accused of leveraging his authority as an officer of the law in two allegedly coercive sexual relationships with women by Josh Shapiro, the state's attorney general.
An affidavit filed by David Scicchitano, a detective, alleges that Derr met "Female No. 1" when she was involved in a drug arrest April 23, 2015. Scicchitano alleged Female No. 1 told him she began receiving lewd photos, sometimes involving his police uniform and car, which led to a sexual relationship between the two.
According to Scicchitano, Female No. 1 described a time when Derr knew she was driving an uninspected car without a license while she was buying drugs. Derr allegedly offered to follow her out of the area to "make sure she did not get into trouble" and "made sure she was not stopped by other officers," having allegedly known she was buying drugs, Scicchitano said.
That protection extended to the Female #1's friends, Scicchitano said. Derr allegedly stopped a vehicle operated by "Male No. 1," an associate of Female No. 1, who was allegedly in possession of 10 bags of heroin and drug paraphernalia. Scicchitano alleged Derr reported he released Male No. 1, and Williamsport Police records say he placed the seized drugs into evidence. More than a year later on Jan. 22, 2017, Derr reported "No prosecution, case closed" on the incident.
According to Damon Hagan, Williamsport Bureau of Police Chief, Derr sent that report directly to records and intentionally bypassed sending it to a supervisor, Scicchitano alleges.
"Female No. 2" came into play when she allegedly stole from a department store on April 28, 2016. Scicchitano alleged that Derr reported the items were located in the store and that no theft had occurred after telling the loss prevention employee that charges would be filed and restitution would be sought in full--because the merchandise was not recovered.
Scicchitano alleges Derr texted Female No. 2 about getting the charges dropped. Scicchitano also said Derr texted Female No. 2 about "making looks at her" and "told her she could potentially go to jail, 'but I could really help you with this.'" Derr eventually visited Female No. 2 at her house and asked her to perform oral sex on him.
"Female No. 2 said she did not engage in this act with Derr because she was attracted to him or wanted a relationship with him. She indicated it was strictly because of the charge she was facing," Scicchitano wrote in the affidavit. "When she decided to participate in this act, this was with the retail theft charge still hanging over her head."
Scicchitano explained Female No. 2's record showed no reports for retail theft. Meanwhile, according to Scicchitano, Hagan said Derr closed the retail theft case out Jan. 19, 2017, almost nine months following the incident, and that Hagan said Derr "made an effort to avoid the supervisor with that report."
"Chief Hagan said these cases look like Derr was trying to avoid detection specifically," Scicchitano said.
According to the affidavit, Hagan clarified officers are not permitted to handle cases involving people with whom they are intimate, and should make their supervisor aware of conflicts of interest.
Scicchitano alleged that Derr would run Female No. 1's license and registration in the JNET system to check if she had any warrants or if she still had her license. The affidavit alleges that between June 14, 2015, and Dec. 11, 2019, Derr ran 93 illegitimate JNET checks on 28 different women.
"These were prohibited uses of that system and violated the JNET user agreement, which also jeopardized the Williamsport Bureau of Police Department's access to the system," Scicchitano alleged.
Derr was suspended from the Williamsport Bureau of Police in June and resigned in September. He was formerly a police corporal, and joined the department in 2013.
In all, Derr is accused of the unlawful use of a computer, unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with public records or information, obstructing administration of law, hindering apprehension or prosecution, official oppression and criminal coercion.
Derr was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Allen P. Page III on Dec. 15, and will appear for a preliminary hearing before Page Jan. 4, 2021. Derr was released with a bail set to $10,000.