A Williamsport district judge delayed making a ruling Friday on whether enough evidence exists against a former city police officer who allegedly used department resources to coerce women into sexual relationships.

District Judge Allen Page said he would review the evidence and come to a decision Wednesday after accusations were brought against Eric Derr, the ex-officer, who resigned last September.

Derr faces charges filed by state Deputy Attorney General Rebecca A. Elo to include 28 counts of unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes, falsifying reports, tampering with public records and obstructing the law and criminal coercion.

Derr is accused of starting intimate relationships with two women while he was a city police officer.

Elo, who was accompanied at the preliminary hearing by Special Agent David Schicchitano from the Attorney General’s office, presented three witnesses — a police captain, a former loss prevention security officer at Kohl’s and a woman who testified she had an “on-again off-again” two-and-a-half-year relationship with Derr while he was in uniform.

City Police Capt. Jason Bolt said he conducted an internal investigation along with Lt. Steve Helm that began in early 2020. Bolt, who has expertise in technology and cellphone forensics, said he has worked with the FBI’s Northeast Computer Crimes Task Force. He noted the police department became aware of allegations against Derr when Derr’s family members had indicated Derr used the police department “J-Net” system while on vacation out of state, Bolt said.

The J-Net system enables officers who are certified through a process of tests and using codes and passwords to use it to gain access to personal information. Bolt said he worked with the Lycoming County information technology specialist to produce several years of reports filed by Derr regarding criminal histories.

The city officers can only access the network when doing criminal investigations and for legal purposes, Bolt said.

Women were “repeatedly searched” and not for criminal justice purposes, he said.

One woman testifying said Derr began a sexual relationship with her when she was involved in a drug arrest in 2015.

The woman acknowledged she was using unspecified drugs at the time.

She testified that Derr texted her photos of himself in his police uniform and said Derr kept her safe when she went to buy drugs and helped her avoid arrest while driving without a license.

Derr allegedly covered up crimes for one of her drug associates, who he caught with 10 bags of heroin, also known as a “bundle.”

In 2016, another woman was suspected in a retail theft at Kohl’s. The former loss prevention officer testified that the woman committed theft.

The state accused Derr of allegedly covering up her crime in exchange for sex after falsely convinced her she was facing jail time.

The investigation also revealed Derr used a police database to look up dozens of women, Bolt said.

Derr used his law enforcement access to run 93 unauthorized searches on 28 different women, according to the attorney general’s office report.

Derr was suspended from the department and resigned last September.

Derr did not testify.

“All 28 counts should be dismissed,” said Robert Hoffa, Derr’s attorney.

Other than “Bolt’s conclusions,” no evidence of any intent exists, Hoffa said.

The alleged false report at the department store is dependent on a “guy from Kohl’s,” Hoffa said, adding his client didn’t make an arrest of the woman using the drugs in the vehicle stop.