Seattle police arrested one of their own after the self-described “predator” was accused of groping three fellow police department employees -- two women and a man.

The 26-year-veteran of the police force was charged earlier this month with three counts of fourth-degree assault, a gross misdemeanor, including two alleging sexual motivation. A gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Had the officer, age 50, been charged with a more serious level of assault he faced prison time.

The three employees — a female officer, a female temporary civilian employee and a male officer — filed complaints in August against the veteran police officer.

The female officer said her colleague seemed friendly and helpful at work until he engaged in unwanted physical contact, rubbing her shoulders, putting his hand down her blouse and grabbing her buttocks while telling her “she owed him.” In addition, during a training session, the officer simulated sex with her.

The civilian employee had a similar experience with the officer seeming friendly, but groping her buttocks dozens of times and commenting on her appearance.

The male officer reported his colleague groped his buttocks on at least four occasions, despite being told to stop, and grabbed his crotch at least four times. The victimized officer also saw his colleague grope female colleagues and on one occasion remark that he was a “predator.”

The officer being charged had been investigated previously, but no action was taken.

A person is guilty of assault in the fourth degree if the incident does not rise to the circumstances of assault in the first, second or third degrees.

A person is guilty of assault in the first degree if he or she, with intent to inflict great bodily harm:

• Assaults a person with a firearm or any deadly weapon or by any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death; or
• Administers, exposes or transmits to (or causes to be taken by) another, poison, HIV or any other noxious substance.

A person is guilty of assault in the second degree if he or she:

• Intentionally assaults someone and recklessly inflicts substantial bodily harm; or

• Intentionally causes substantial bodily harm to an unborn child by intentionally inflicting injury upon the mother; or

• Assaults another with a deadly weapon; or
• With intent to inflict bodily harm, administers to (or causes to be taken by) another, poison or any other noxious substance; or
• With intent to commit a felony, assaults another; or
• Knowingly inflicts bodily harm which by design causes such pain or agony as to be the equivalent of that produced by torture; or
• Assaults another by strangulation or suffocation.

A person is guilty of assault in the third degree if he or she:

• Commits an assault in an effort to avoid arrest or to impede a court order; or
• Negligently causes bodily harm to someone with a weapon or accompanied by substantial pain that extends for a period sufficient to cause considerable suffering; or
• Assaults an employee of a bus or transit company; a member of a fire or law enforcement department; a medical professional; or a member of a person in a courthouse.

Everyone charged with a crime, regardless of the circumstances, is entitled to a good defense. If you are facing criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.