The woman who accused a
Harrisburg police officer of stalking her also claimed the officer raped her in
late August, according to a protection from abuse order filed in Dauphin County
Court.
Corporal Todd R. Chance has not
been charged with any sex crimes. He has been charged with misdemeanor counts
of stalking and harassment. Chance has no prior criminal record.
Dauphin County District
Attorney Ed Marsico Jr. said Thursday in an email that the "criminal
complaints [against Chance] were filed on charges that investigators believe
can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that there is sufficient evidence
to meet that burden of proof."
He said detectives and
prosecutors worked with the woman and her family during the investigative
process. Marsico also stressed that convictions on the stalking and harassment
charges would ensure Chance will be prohibited from working as a police
officer.
When asked for comment Thursday
on the rape allegation, Brian Perry, Chance's attorney, said, "The fact
that criminal charges involving sexual misconduct were not filed tells the
story."
Perry earlier acknowledged that
Chance has made some poor choices, saying he had "lost his cool and made
some dumb decisions." Perry also said the case is a difficult one where
there is an element of "he said, she said."
Perry said all the facts of the
case have yet to be made public.
Chance could not be reached for
comment Thursday evening.
Chance's accuser filed her
petition for a protection from abuse order on Sept. 8. County Judge William T.
Tully granted it on Tuesday.
The woman claimed in the
petition that Chance raped her on Aug. 27 at a residence in Harrisburg.
Tully's order forbids Chance
from having any contact with his accuser for three years. A violation of the
order could result in a $1,000 fine, 6 months in prison or other criminal
penalties.
The PFA order was granted the
same day county investigators filed the stalking and harassment charges against
Chance. He was arraigned Wednesday and is free on $10,000 unsecured bail as he
awaits his preliminary hearing.
Harrisburg officials said
Wednesday that Chance was immediately suspended last month when police learned
of the stalking allegations made against him. They stressed the allegations did
not involve Chance's official police duties.
An 11-year veteran of the department,
Chance will remain suspended with pay until the charges filed against him are
bound over to county court.
Charging documents show
Chance's accuser met with county investigators on Sept. 8 and told them she had
been involved in an on-and-off relationship with Chance for 10 years.
She described Chance to police
as "very possessive, controlling and jealous." She told police said
that on Aug. 27, she sent text messages to two other men in whom she was
romantically interested, angering him. Threats and stalking followed, she told
police, according to the charging documents.
Aug. 27 is the same day the
woman says Chance raped her, according to her petition for a protection from
abuse order.
Chance is tentatively scheduled
to appear Oct. 31 for a preliminary court hearing.