(DAILY MAIL) A former Philadelphia police officer once  hailed as a hero and given a seat next to the first lady at a speech by  President Obama has been arrested and charged with rape and other  crimes.

Authorities allege that former officer  Richard DeCoatsworth left a party with two women early Thursday and took them to  another location, where they claim that he produced a handgun and ‘forced the  two females to engage in the use of narcotics and sexual acts.’

A police spokeswoman said the two called  police after he left, and 27-year-old DeCoatsworth was charged with rape, sexual  assault, terroristic threats and related offenses.

DeCoatsworth was hailed as a hero after he  was shot in the face during a traffic stop in September 2007 but still managed  to chase after his attacker, who was later sentenced to 36 to 72 years in  prison.

DeCoatsworth was invited by Vice President  Joe Biden to attend the president’s televised February 2009 address to Congress  and sat with first lady Michelle Obama.

He said he didn’t know why he had been  singled out, but being in the presence of the nation’s leaders was an honor  ‘that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.’

WCAU-TV, which first reported his arrest,  said DeCoatsworth retired from the department on disability in December  2011.

Police were tight-lipped Saturday about the  details of the incident, declining to give even general locations for the  party.  (read more)