The Latest: Ex-officer arrested for obstructing rape probe

SAN FRANCISCO – The Latest on a former San Francisco police lieutenant charged with obstructing the rape investigation of a subordinate officer (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

San Francisco police say they have arrested a former San Francisco police lieutenant charged with obstructing the rape investigation of a subordinate officer.

The San Francisco Police Department says in a statement Wednesday Curtis Liu was booked at San Francisco County Jail on one count of filing a false police report and two counts of obstructing an investigation.

Liu has also been incriminated in a racist texting scandal.

The latest bigoted San Francisco texts came to light after a woman reported in August that then-Officer Jason Lai raped her. As part of the rape investigation, Lai’s cellphone was seized and racist texts to Liu and others were found.

Liu retired from the department last year.

2:43 p.m.

A former San Francisco police lieutenant incriminated in a racist texting scandal has been charged with obstructing the rape investigation of a subordinate officer.

The San Francisco district attorney’s office on Wednesday charged Curtis Liu with a felony count of lying to investigators and two misdemeanours charges of obstruction.

In August, a woman reported that then-Officer Jason Lai raped her. Liu is accused of discussing the accusation with Lai before investigators contacted him and then denying he had contact with the suspect.

Prosecutors in March declined to charge Lai with rape, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. During the rape investigation, it was discovered that Lai, Liu and two other officers exchanged racists and homophobic text messages.

Liu retired from the department last year. Lai resigned earlier this month.