Police Officer and Pastor Reportedly Assaulted Girls in Church, Police Hq
By Deb Belt
A Washington, D.C., police officer from Prince George’s County – who is also a pastor -- faces charges of sexually assaulting teenage girls at a church and at police headquarters. Metro Officer Darrell L. Best, 45, of Upper Marlboro, was arrested in March and is being held without bond on four charges, including first-degree sexual abuse while armed and sexual abuse of a minor. Authorities allege he abused two teenage girls who attend his church, God Of A Second Chance Ministry, in Southeast DC. Since his arrest, a third girl has contacted authorities to report she was also abused by Best, NBC Washington reports. Best was scheduled to appear in court May 5, but online court records show the conference was rescheduled for June 2. An earlier request that he be released from jail on bond was denied. Prosecutors say Best reportedly sexually abused a 16-year-old parishioner three times at the church beginning in December. The second victim, now 18 but 17 at the time of the alleged crimes, says she was sexually assaulted in Best’s office on the fifth floor of police headquarters. The teen says Best was wearing his gun when he forced her to have sex in the police station, WJLA TV reports. He then allegedly told the victim, “Girl, fix your shirt. If one of the chiefs see you coming out of my office like this, they’re going to think something was going on.” The department says Best has been a police officer for 25 years. He had risen to the rank of sergeant, but was demoted to officer for an incident of sexual misconduct while on duty in 2008, prosecutors said. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call MPD’s Youth Investigations Division at 202-576-6768 or text 50411. »Screenshot of Officer Darrell Best from WJLA TV
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