Posted by By Michele McPhee on
A Nigerian police official was tossed from the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference and reported to the State Department after he was accused of groping a woman working at the convention center, the Herald has learned.
A Nigerian police official was tossed from the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference and reported to the State Department after he was accused of groping a woman working at the convention center, the Herald has learned.
The suspect - whose name was not released because he was not arrested - was questioned by Boston police sexual assault unit detectives Monday after he allegedly groped a woman's breasts and buttocks inside the Boston Convention and Event Center in South Boston, several police sources said.
The suspect was detained and questioned, a high-ranking BPD official said last night, but was released after the victim declined to press charges.
A BPD spokeswoman, Elaine Driscoll, confirmed that the IACP credentials of a Nigerian police official were revoked because of the accusation that a sex attack took place were made against him.
'Allegations of sexual misconduct are a serious matter and we take the appropriate action when necessary," Driscoll said.
'The allegations prompted IACP officials to revoke the suspect's credentials, and Boston police investigators contacted the State Department and the Nigerian Embassy," Driscoll said.
A witness to the alleged attack told the Herald that the suspect approached the woman, touched her, and said: 'Hey, are you going to give me a place to stay this week?"
The woman responded that she had a fiancé, according to the witness.
'Then he grabbed her breasts and (buttocks)" said the witness. 'She screamed. She was very upset, and he was surrounded by Boston police."
The IACP conference, which featured a session on police medical care in Nigeria, ends today. Boston taxpayers are expected to get hit with a staggering overtime bill to pay for the city cops assigned to duties there, which included taxiing out-of-town police officials.