Detective James Bishof of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with aggravated sexual battery, sexual battery by an authority figure, and official oppression.
The charges stem from an incident on July 11th involving a 22-year-old female who showed up at the SCSO detective unit asking for help with a domestic assault case. Bishof reportedly told the victim he’d helped another female defendant in a similar situation and that he’d be able to help her as well.
Bishof then allegedly took the woman into a bathroom on the ninth floor of 201 Poplar and photographed private areas of her body. He reportedly told the woman that he had a better camera at home and he’d like to come by her house later that day to take more pictures. At the victim’s home, Bishof allegedly asked her to take off her clothes, so he could photograph her private areas again. The woman claims Bishof made inappropriate sexual comments while touching her.
After he left, the woman complained to her roommate, and the roommate told her father about the situation. The father contacted the sheriff’s office, and Bishof was relieved of duty on July 13th pending an internal investigation. He was taken into custody on July 28th.
