WEST PALM BEACH — A West Palm Beach Police officer was arrested Friday after a woman accused him of sexual assaulting her while he was in uniform. When the woman reported the incident to the officer’s colleague and said she had video to prove it, the officer grabbed her phone and deleted the video. It was soon recovered.
James Bush, 33, faces charges of attempted sexual battery, false imprisonment, robbery with a firearm, obstruction of justice and soliciting prostitution. Police spokesperson Michael Jachles said the incident took place on Wednesday morning, after Bush responded alone to a 911 call at an apartment complex near Village Boulevard.
A man had called the police to help evict his girlfriend. He had begun to throw the woman’s belongings out of the house when Bush arrived. Jachles said Bush told the man to leave, then approached his girlfriend and asked if she wanted “to go upstairs and have some fun.”
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The woman said Bush grabbed her arm and led her to a guest bedroom, where he unzipped his pants, exposed himself and tried to force her to perform oral sex. The woman said Bush offered her “$2,000 to get your own place.”
Jachles did not say how the woman responded, how long Bush was alone with her or what proceeded his exit from the home. He said only that Bush “left and the boyfriend returned.”
The boyfriend called 911 again at 1 p.m. to tell police he wanted a restraining order against the woman. Bush returned to the home with another officer.
The woman told the second officer that Bush sexually assaulted her, at which point Jachles said Bush “grabbed her phone during a struggle and deleted video.” Jachles did not say what the video revealed, and Bush’s arrest report was not immediately available Monday morning.
He did not say whether Bush activated his body camera when responding to the incident, or at what point he turned it off.
West Palm officer admitted to elements of crimes, spokesperson said
Jachles said Bush admitted to some of the elements of the crimes but did not specify which. He was arrested by his own police agency and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail late Friday night, where he is held on $341,000 bond.
Bush’s mugshot was withheld from the Sheriff’s Office booking blotter. Jachles said Bush was “relieved of duty” but did not specify whether Bush was fired or placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. He did not return a request for clarification.
In an email Sunday night, Police Chief Frank Adderley said he has an obligation to act in the best interest of the community and hold responsible those who breach the public trust.
“On behalf of the men and women who are dedicated to serve and protect, this is not reflective of the West Palm Beach Police Department,” Adderley said. “We have a zero-tolerance for misconduct and abuse of power and will hold those accountable who violate their oath.”
Bush’s defense attorney Ian Goldstein said Bush “unequivocally denies the allegations.”
“We are confident that the truth will prevail,” the attorney said Monday.
Hannah Phillips covers criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected]. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach police officer charged with sex crime, false imprisonment
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