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Stillwater cop charged with sex assault

The police officer is accused of sexual misconduct and misconduct by a public officer. He has been suspended.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: October 15, 2008 - 10:26 PM

A Stillwater police officer is facing charges that he kissed a motel employee and tried to get her to touch his "privates," all while he was on duty and in his uniform.

Scott Gerald Geving, 49, of Marine on St. Croix, has been charged with a felony count of fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, gross misdemeanor fifth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct and two gross misdemeanor counts of misconduct by a public officer for an incident that occurred on Aug. 20.

Stillwater Police Chief John Ganaway said Geving was suspended the day the department heard of the allegation. He said Geving, who has been with the department since 1998, has an excellent record with no disciplinary issues. An internal investigation is taking place, he added. The Dakota County attorney's office is handling the case to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

According to the charges, Geving was on duty when he showed up at a Stillwater motel about 2 a.m. on Aug. 20. He told the female employee he was there to do a "walk-through." They went through the motel and when they returned to the front desk, Geving walked behind the woman and started to rub her back, saying, "I could relieve that stress you have," according to the charges. The woman replied, "No, thank you. You need to go back to work."

The woman went into the breakfast area to continue working and Geving asked if he could follow her, but she told him that he shouldn't. Then, Geving pulled the woman toward him with his hand and kissed her on the mouth. Later, Geving pushed her up against a washing machine in the laundry area, grabbed her hand and tried to put it on his "privates." Geving told the woman he got off work at 3 a.m. and would come back then.

He returned to the motel around 3:30 a.m., dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. He began to whisper to the woman, whose son was with her, asking her about the price of a room and asking her to show him where the side doors were. She told him no and said he needed to go home. Geving then left the motel.

Geving is expected to make his first court appearance within the next month.

Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628

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