Forks Police Officer Erik Hanson, 33, was arrested and booked into the Clallam County jail on April 23 on a charge of second-degree child rape. His bail was set at $5,000.

The case has been referred to the Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office for review and formal charging. Hanson has been placed on administrative leave.

Hanson’s arrest is the result of a three-month investigation conducted by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Forks Police Department, at the request of Forks Police Chief Mike Powell.

The investigation began in February 2009 after a 12-year-old girl accused Hanson of "inappropriate sexual contact," according to Clallam County Det. Sgt. Lyman Moores.

Hanson was serving an 18-month tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the National Guard Reserves while the allegations were being investigated.

He was arrested by Clallam County Sheriff’s detectives while home on military leave, Moores said. The arrest involved Hanson’s off-duty behavior, he said.

Detective Stacy Sampson, a forensic child interviewer, obtained detailed information from the victim regarding Hanson’s alleged actions, Moores said.

The girl’s statements were corroborated through detailed e-mail correspondence and phone records that were obtained with the assistance of National Guard personnel and the Forks Police Department, he said.

Completion of the criminal investigation will allow the Forks Police Department to complete its administrative review, Moores said.

Hanson was one of three Forks police officers to receive the first Gratitude Award from the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force of Clallam County in October 2008.