Prince William Police Beat / A Manassas cop who investigated internet crimes against children killed self as police attempted to jail him for sex crimes against kids
GAINESVILLE, VA. — A Manassas City cop who was on the task force for investigation sex crimes against children avoid arrest by barricading himself in his home and then taking his own life.
Prince William County Police says that early on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, detectives from the Special Victims Unit attempted to execute a search warrant and multiple arrest warrants at a residence located in the 13700 block of Senea Dr. in Gainesville regarding an active ongoing investigation. When detectives made contact with the accused at the home, he refused to surrender to law enforcement.
The accused was believed to be armed and precautions were taken to evacuate neighboring residences.
While detectives were communicating with the accused, he pulled out a handgun and shot himself. The accused was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives began an investigation on December 14th involving inappropriate communication between the accused and a victim, identified as a 13-year-old male juvenile. The investigation revealed that the accused was a coach for a local Prince William County hockey league where he had met the victim.
Detectives learned that the inappropriate contact between the accused and the victim began in June of 2013 when the victim was 11 years old. The contact consisted of soliciting sexual acts via phone, text, social media and email. The accused also had face to face interactions with the victim.
During the investigation, detectives learned of a second male victim who also affiliated with the hockey league and had inappropriate communication with the accused which began in June of 2008 when the victim was 13 years old. Following the investigation, detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of the accused and for a subsequent search of the home.
The accused was also identified as a Manassas City police detective who served on the Northern Virginia-Washington D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The deceased detective was identified as David Edward ABBOTT Jr., 39, of 13756 Senea Dr in Gainesville Warrants obtained were 2 counts of indecent liberties by a custodian and 2 counts of use of a communications device to solicit sexual offenses.
