Former Ft. Dodge Police Officer Arrested

Serious Charge: A former Fort Dodge police officer could be in a whole lot of trouble with the law. Galin Hindt, a 7-year veteran, is accused of coming up to a woman at a Ft. Dodge bar in April, according to a story in the Fort Dodge Messenger. The paper reports he told her that unless she let him take her home, he would bust her for driving drunk. The paper said Hindt then took the woman to his apartment and forced himself on her. The woman escaped after he fell asleep, according to the report. Hindt quit his job on the force two days after the woman told authorities what she said happened that night.

Here's the release, which has far less information than the newspaper:

Fort Dodge, Iowa --- This morning, 46 year old Galen Hindt of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was charged with Extortion and 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse after an extensive investigation into an incident on April 6, 2011.

Galen Hindt is a former police officer for the Fort Dodge Police Department.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011 the Fort Dodge Police Department received information Officer Hindt was a suspect in the sexual abuse of a Fort Dodge citizen. To maintain the integrity of the investigation and avoid a potential conflict of interest, the Fort Dodge Police Department requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conduct the investigation into this incident.

Hindt resigned from the Fort Dodge Police Department on Friday, April 8, 2011.

Hindt turned himself in to the Webster County Jail at approximately 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 6, 2011. He appeared before a judge soon after, and was released on his own recognizance.