THE BRONX — NYPD Deputy Inspector Keith Walton, the former commander at the 49th Precinct indicted for grabbing a female officer's crotch, told her two days after the alleged sexual abuse that he had been strongly attracted to her since first arriving at the command, according to court documents.
"You are intriguing and someone I could trust," he said in a tape-recorded conversation, "and there was an occasion where you touched my back, which made me presume that you were interested."
Walton, 44, is accused of calling the policewoman into his office at the 49th Precinct on Nov. 6 at 1:15 p.m., where he then started to forcefully pull her hair and try to kiss her, prosecutors charge.
She attempted to leave after he grabbed her crotch, but Walton asked, "Where the hell are you going?" turned her around, grabbed her below the waist again and made her do the same to him, according to the Bronx District Attorney's office.
The victim repeatedly told Walton to stop and tried to push his hands off of her, and Walton told her, "I'm leaving soon. Don't f--- with me, remember, remember," according to the criminal complaint.
In their tape-recorded conversation, Walton insisted that she kissed him while the two were in his office, and he did not remember her saying stop, court papers show.
Walton appeared to try and smooth things over with his colleague at the end of their tape-recorded conversation, court papers show.
"Do we end this with a handshake?" he asked. "I want a hug."
Walton was indicted Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse, official misconduct, forcible touching and harassment and is due back in court on Feb. 7, the Bronx District Attorney's Office said.
He was released after his court appearance and could face seven years in prison if convicted of the top charge, officials said.
The 49th Precinct is located at 2121 Eastchester Rd. and covers neighborhoods including Allerton, Morris Park and Pelham Parkway. Walton was suspended after the alleged sexual abuse incident, and the commanding officer is now Captain Thomas Alps, according to the precinct's website.
“The defendant allegedly sexually abused an officer who was under his command, in the police stationhouse where they serve and protect the public," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. "By his degrading behavior, he abused the trust of his officers, as well as that of the residents of the 49th Precinct in the Bronx.”
Walton's attorney Louis La Pietra said that the indictment did not change his client's position.
"He continues to deny these allegations and intends to see this case through to trial," La Pietra said.
The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment.
