Boston Police Detective Accused of Masturbating in Public

By FRANK O’LAUGHLIN (Patch Staff)

A detective for the Boston Police Department has been placed on leave after being arrested and charged with open and gross lewdness, Vice.com reports.

According to an incident report obtained by the website, Seth Richard, 45, was allegedly caught masturbating in the parking lot at the Spring Hill Suites in Andover on August 19.

A witness spotted Richard, a 19-year veteran of the force, masturbating next a black SUV in the parking lot. The witness phoned local police. Just a day earlier, another witness saw Richard doing the same thing near a red Volkswagen.

An Andover police officer observed Richard driving away in the black SUV. Upon pulling the vehicle over, the officer noticed the driver struggling to put his pants back on.

The officer noted Richard had a glock, a badge and court documents on the passenger’s seat. When asked where he was going, Richard supposedly said he was “on the job.”

Richard was said to be behaving in an a “odd” and “nervous” manner at the time of the arrest.