Suffolk News-Herald

A Suffolk police officer arraigned on sexual misconduct charges in General District Court on Monday is free on $15,000 bond today.

Officer Christopher Dion VanArsdale, 28, of 228 Abingdon Circle, was arrested Friday and charged with forcible sodomy by threat, force and intimidation. The police officer, who was arrested Friday and spent the weekend in Portsmouth City Jail, posted bond around 3 p.m. Monday.

According to court documents, VanArsdale came under scrutiny after a 40-year-old woman filed a complaint alleging that he responded to a call at her home in the 1100 block of Nansemond Parkway around Feb. 18 and forced her to perform a sexual act.

Although he was not on duty, VanArsdale was wearing his uniform and driving a marked police cruiser, records said.

VanArsdale’s attorney, Michael Imprevento, said his client denies forcing the woman to perform the sex act.

VanArsdale has resigned from the police force, a department spokesman said.

General District Court Judge James A. Moore also ordered VanArsdale not to contact the victim or her family.

VanArsdale’s preliminary hearing is set for March 31.

VanArsdale worked for Western Tidewater Regional Jail before joining the police department in 2001.

He has also been a former instructor at the Chesapeake Public Safety Training Academy.