San Diego officer charged with mistreating women while on duty

SAN DIEGO — A suspended San Diego police officer is being charged with two felony and three misdemeanor counts of abusing four women while on duty, Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis announced Tuesday.

“This defendant was in a position of authority and he abused the public trust,” Dumanis said at a news conference.

More women have made allegations, which are being investigated for possible charges, Dumanis said.

Christopher Hays, 30, decorated for bravery in 2012, is charged with two counts of felony false imprisonment through the use of “menace” and three counts of misdemeanor battery.

Hays pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Tuesday afternoon. He remained free on $130,000 bail posted after his Feb. 9 arrest.

Dumanis said that if Hays is convicted, he could get up to three years and eight months in prison.

Hays received a medal in 2012 for dashing into a burning building to save a woman who was trapped on the second floor. He also served with the Marines in Iraq as a lance corporal. He has been with the Police Department for four years.

One of the incidents in which he has been charged allegedly occurred during a domestic-violence call. Others involved a shoplifting suspect, a homeless woman and a woman interviewed during a street patrol.

Hays is married and the father of two. His father-in-law, Mark Jones, is an assistant chief with the San Diego department.

Hays was suspended in mid-January as the district attorney reviewed the police investigation to determine whether criminal charges would be filed.

In 2011, San Diego officer Anthony Arevalos was convicted of demanding sexual favors from women after making traffic stops. He was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison. He was fired after the accusations were made.

The City Council has approved a total of $2.3 million in payments to women assaulted by Arevalos. One case has gone to trial.

Twitter: @LATsandiego

tony.perry@latimes.com