SPOKANE, Wash. – A Spokane Police Officer was placed on leave Wednesday after admitting that he had an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met while investigating a claim of domestic violence.
Newly released documents show the woman's husband got wind of it, and sounded the alarm.
SPD officer Chris Conrath met the victim during a domestic violence call on September 7. Ultimately, Officer Conrath found there was no evidence to arrest the victim's husband, and left the scene.
Documents show that only five hours later the victim emailed Conrath – where she thanked him for responding. She also left her phone number.
Officer Conrath replied "You're very welcome!"
Just an hour later though, the two communicated again.
Documents showed the victim emailed Conrath saying "I have to tell you, I can't stop thinking about you."
Officer Conrath responded, and seemed to distance himself from the victim, telling her "interaction outside my professional capacity would be inappropriate. I hope you understand."
Over the course of the next several hours though, Officer Conrath seemed to have a change of heart. According to the investigation, he and the victim spoke on the phone three times.
Late that night, they met at the Japanese Gardens at Manito Park.
Documents show that the victim asked Officer Conrath, "Do you want me to wear my sexy clothes?"
At that meeting, the pair hugged and kissed.
According to documents, the two then went to a Spokane Valley hotel, where they engaged in sexual activities. The investigation revealed that sexual contact happened only 32 hours after the pair had met.
Documents show the victim's husband eventually uncovered text messages and emails between the two. He then provided them as evidence to SPD.
Officer Conrath eventually fessed up to the affair, stating "Yeah, I was sort of flirting with disaster."
He continued, "I made a big mistake and I take responsibility for it."
This is not the first time Officer Conrath has been in the news. Two years ago in January, he was in an officer-involved shooting with a man waving a knife. The prosecutor's office later found that shooting to be justified.
