Stillwater cop accused in sex cases quits

Stillwater officer had been on leave after being charged with trying to assault one woman and harassing another.

By KEVIN GILES, Star Tribune

Last update: May 19, 2009 - 7:43 PM

A Stillwater police officer accused of attempted sexual assault and harassment while in uniform has resigned.

Scott Gerald Geving, 50, of Marine on St. Croix left his job Monday after months of being on leave from the department, Mayor Ken Harycki said Tuesday.

Geving was charged in October with fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, a felony, for an incident at a Stillwater motel last summer when he allegedly tried to force a night clerk into having sex. Geving was in uniform at the time, according to the complaint, which was filed in Dakota County to avoid a conflict of interest in Washington County.

In addition, Geving was charged with one count of attempted criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, a gross misdemeanor, and two counts of misconduct of a public officer or employee, both gross misdemeanors.

Additional charges were filed in April involving a second woman, who contacted police after she read about the first case. This woman alleged that Geving had stopped her on suspicion of drunken driving in 2006 but let her go even after she failed a preliminary breath test.

A few weeks later, he began a series of visits to a Stillwater bed and breakfast where she worked. During several of those visits he was in uniform and driving a police squad car. In one instance he forced physical contact and touched her breast, the complaint said.

In the second set of charges, Geving faced a felony -- one count of pattern of harassing conduct -- and gross misdemeanors for one count of harassment/stalking and two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree.

Harycki said that Geving, a 10-year city employee, will be paid through June, according to the separation agreement. Geving was earning $68,000 a year plus medical benefits and pension, the mayor said.

"The alleged actions of one police officer don't represent the entire police department," Harycki said.

Kevin Giles • 612-673-4482