Richard DeCoatsworth: Hero Cop Who Sat Next to Michelle Obama Charged With Rape Of 2 Women

A former Philadelphia police officer, hailed as a hero cop and given a seat next to Michelle Obama at a speech by the president, is being held on $60 million bail after allegedly raping two women and assaulting another.

Authorities have said that former officer Richard DeCoatsworth left a party early Thursday with two females and took them to another location. There, at gunpoint, he forced them to engage in the use of narcotics and in sexual acts. The two later called the police, and 27-year-old DeCoatsworth was arraigned on Saturday night on charges including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, trafficking of persons, false imprisonment, and aggravated assault.

The $60 million bail comes from a $25 million bail for each of the victims. An additional $10 million was added from a separate domestic violence case, involving DeCoatsworth's assault of his live-in girlfriend on May 9th.

[Source: NBC Philadelphia]

DeCoatsworth was hailed as a hero in 2007 when, as a rookie officer, he was shot in the face while at a traffic stop. He managed to chase his assaulter for several blocks before collapsing, and then was able to radio in enough information for authorities to track the assaulter down. The attacker was later sentenced for 36 to 72 years in prison. His heroism earned him an invitation by Vice President Joe Biden to attend President Obama's first congressional address in February 2009, where he was given a seat beside the first lady.

However, aside from the recent cases of rape and assault, the fallen hero cop has received other complaints in the past. In November of 2011, DeCoatsworth was investigated by Internal Affairs for a scuffle between him and another officer. He also amassed nine citizen complaints accusing him of assault, abuse, and misconduct.

Additionally, in February 2012 he was issued an arrest warrant for threatening a woman in Port Richmond, Philadelphia.

It's horrific and shocking that a man that was honored for his heroism by the White House is now an alleged rapist. How can people have missed the signs? What changed in him? Was he ever truly a hero, or was he always a monster?

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