Police officer released on bail in sexual assault of teen

A Philadelphia police officer charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a Bucks County motel was released from custody Friday after posting $50,000 bail.

Anthony Dattilo, 36, a seven-year veteran of the force, also was suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

Police investigating the possible abduction of a 14-year-old girl found Dattilo with her and a 21-year-old woman in a room at the Lincoln Motel on Lincoln Highway in Bensalem about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Police have alleged that the woman called Dattilo to arrange a get-together and that she took along the girl, who is her cousin, after Dattilo offered the pair $100 each to have with sex with him.

He had sex with the woman in front of the girl in the motel room and was naked and fondling the girl when police knocked on the door, according to the criminal complaint.

The two officers, members of the Special Victims Unit, had heard the girl crying, the complaint said. After dressing and washing his hands, Dattilo opened the door and told the investigators he was an officer assigned to Philadelphia's Second District in Northeast Philadelphia.

Police said the woman and girl met Dattilo in North Philadelphia and he drove them to Bensalem.

During the ride, the girl texted relatives, saying she was being held against her will, police said. They alerted authorities to her whereabouts.

Dattilo, of the 7200 block of Gillespie Street in the city's Tacony section, was charged with a dozen offenses, including aggravated sexual assault, promoting prostitution, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors.

His bail was set at $500,000 Thursday, and, after spending a night in jail, he was released Friday after posting the required 10 percent.

Staff writer Bill Reed contributed to this article.