A San Diego Police Department officer has resigned after accidentally locking himself in the backseat of his patrol car with a woman he had arrested on suspicion of car theft. The incident, which occurred on Aug. 15, 2023, prompted an internal investigation that led to the officer’s resignation less than a month later.
According to the investigation, Officer Anthony Hair, a two-year veteran of the force, was transporting the woman to the Las Colinas Detention Center when their conversation turned inappropriate. The woman asked Hair if he was single and made illicit comments, which were captured on the officer’s body camera.
Minutes later, Hair pulled over on a residential street near the jail and turned off his body camera. He then became locked in the backseat with the woman for over an hour before calling a fellow officer for help.
Throughout the investigation, Hair maintained that he was checking on the woman when the car door accidentally closed on him. Both Hair and the woman denied any sexual interaction, but investigators found traces of semen on the officer’s belt.
The incident has raised concerns about officer conduct and the handling of detainees. The San Diego Police Department released its internal investigation in adherence to California law, shedding light on the events that led to Hair’s resignation.
