SF police officer arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, sexual assault

A San Francisco police officer assigned to the San Francisco International Airport bureau was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and sexual assault, The Chronicle has learned.

Simon Chan, a 23-year veteran at the department, was placed on unpaid leave effective April 9 and an internal investigation is ongoing, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco police spokesman.

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said the case was submitted to his office Wednesday morning, and that a sexual assault prosecutor was reviewing it for charges.

Chan was arrested at SFO in the early morning hours of April 10, booked into jail and released later that day after posting $100,000 bail. Wagstaffe said Chan was arrested on suspicion of forcible rape and domestic violence, with the alleged incidents occurring between Dec. 24 and April 1.

The district attorney declined to comment further on the case, which is being investigated by San Bruno police.

Chan, who currently works as a K9 handler, was one of four San Francisco police officers named in a 2005 lawsuit that alleged the officers forced a gay man they caught urinating in the street to kneel down and mop up the mess with his hair.

The city ultimately settled the lawsuit for $82,500, but none of the officers faced discipline because the Police Department missed a legal deadline to investigate the allegations.