Public Complaint No. 1664150030 - 631635154

KELSO - A former Kelso police officer is accused of coercing women he had arrested to pose topless for photographs.

Art Demarest, a former patrolman, is to be arraigned today on two felony charges, indecent liberties and unlawful imprisonment, and four charges of official misconduct.

The charges were filed after an investigation by the State Patrol, found a pattern of misconduct involving young women, said Cowlitz County Prosecutor C.C. Bridgewater.

Attorney John Hays, who is representing Demarest, could not be reached for comment.

The evidence includes photographs of exposed and partially exposed breasts. Demarest allegedly told the women he needed the photographs as part of their arrest records.

"I don't know why he thought he could do such a thing," Bridgewater said.

The charges concern four women arrested by Demarest.

"Each of these women was somewhat under the influence," the prosecutor said. "They were not conversant with police procedures. They were naive."

That may be why they did not call for help from nearby jailers, Bridgewater said.

In one instance Feb. 28, Demarest is accused of photographing a woman's breasts in the breath-analysis room at the Hall of Justice, within earshot of other officers and across from the jail's booking desk.

The prosecutor said he hopes the allegations will not cause women to fear contact with police officers. "This was an aberration," he said.

Demarest has been with the department since October 1988. Women who have had difficulties with him are urged to call the prosecutor's office, Bridgewater said.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint from a 27-year-old woman arrested by Demarest March 6 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

After booking the woman, Demarest told her he had to drive her home, according to a summary of the charges against him.

Instead, he took her to a parking lot.

"She was taken out of the patrol car and Demarest forcibly pulled down her blouse and fondled her breast and took pictures of her naked breasts," the summary said.

The woman and her family complained to Police Chief Tony Stoutt, who immediately suspended Demarest, then fired him March 18 and turned the matter over to state police.

Another woman who came forward during the investigation told authorities she refused when Demarest asked to photograph her topless after arresting her in September 1991.

Some of the photographs to be used in evidence were supplied by the Police Department, Bridgewater said. Police contacted the shop where Demarest was known to take police film for developing.

Demarest had already aroused suspicion at the shop because he insisted on paying for film processing that was supposed to be official city business, the prosecutor said.

Demarest was released after he was booked on the charges. Bridgewater said he has not considered a flight risk because he has a family.