A San Diego police officer, Anthony Hair, resigned after an incident where he was found locked in the backseat of his squad car with a female detainee who propositioned him for sex. Newly released bodycam footage sheds light on the controversial August 2023 event, which led to an internal investigation and Hair’s eventual resignation.

Hair, who had been with the San Diego Police Department for two years, resigned about a month after the investigation began and just one day before he was scheduled for a second interview with investigators. The incident began when Hair arrested a female suspect on suspicion of stealing a car outside a convenience store. The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, was one of two suspects wanted for car theft and also had a bench warrant out for her arrest.

Following her arrest, Hair was supposed to transport the detainee to police headquarters and later to the Las Colinas Detention Center in Santee, California, for questioning. However, during the drive, the situation took a surprising turn.

Bodycam footage released by the San Diego Police Department reveals that the suspect propositioned Hair for sex after asking if he was married. “You’re not too bad. What’s it gonna hurt me if I work the system, you know what I mean? That’s the way I see s–t,” she said. She then asked, “Are you single?” to which Hair replied, “Yeah, but you’re not.” The woman responded, “I’m down to f–k right now,” prompting Hair to caution her, “Don’t say that right now … Don’t say that right now because everything is being recorded right now.”

As the pair approached the detention center, Hair can be heard asking the female suspect what she was doing in the backseat. At this point, Hair turned off his bodycam and drove onto a residential street, slowing down the vehicle.

Approximately 20 minutes later, Hair called for assistance from a fellow officer to help him out of the car, describing the situation as an embarrassing mishap. “I asked him if he was okay. He said yes, and then asked if I had my patrol car key with me. I asked why he was asking and what did he need,” the fellow officer recounted. “Officer Hair then asked me if I could go meet him. He said he was really embarrassed.”

Hair claimed that the woman appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency, according to NBC San Diego. Both Hair and the woman denied any inappropriate conduct, with Hair stating he was merely “checking” on the suspect in the backseat. “When I was waking her up, that’s when I noticed that this door closed on me. That’s when I was trying to kind of open the door,” Hair explained in the bodycam footage.

Investigators later found traces of semen on Hair’s belt, CBS reported. The suspect alleged, “He wanted to get with me when I was done with the warrant or whatever I got arrested for.”

The situation raises questions about protocol and professional conduct. Hair’s decision to turn off his bodycam, which is intended to provide transparency and accountability, further complicates the case. The footage gap makes it difficult to ascertain the full sequence of events and has led to suspicions of misconduct.

The San Diego Police Department launched a formal investigation into the incident, during which Hair resigned. The resignation came about a month after the investigation began and just a day before his second scheduled interview with investigators. This timing has led to speculation about Hair’s motivations and the potential outcomes of the investigation.

The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues related to police behavior, accountability, and the importance of bodycams in maintaining transparency during law enforcement interactions. It remains unclear if Hair will face any criminal charges related to the incident. The Department of Defense has not commented on the matter, leaving several questions unanswered regarding the handling of the situation and the steps taken to address the alleged misconduct.

The incident involving Hair underscores the ongoing need for strict adherence to protocols and the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and conduct in law enforcement. The release of the bodycam footage and the details of the investigation serve as a reminder of the critical role transparency plays in upholding public trust in the police force.