After several months of investigation, on Feb. 11, 2013, the rape charges against Grand Rapids firefighter Lt. Lee Finlayson have been dropped. He was originally charged in Oct. 2012 for allegedly raping a female friend from Pennsylvania. This woman accused the man of admitting on the internet, after the alleged rape, that he had committed the rape and was sorry.
New details in the case are now pointing at the woman, and an investigation will be done on her to establish whether or not she had Lt. Finlayson falsely charged with the alleged rape. According to Lt. Finlayson's attorney, there is evidence suggesting the woman may have hacked Lt. Finlayson's social media and email account to set up the messages to stage the alleged rape.
When Lt. Finlayson was originally charged, the woman had told investigators that he raped her in her Brighton Township home in Pennsylvania. She had revealed to reporters that they had been friends for over 30 years and had a previous history of dating. The woman had a personal protection order placed upon Lt. Finlayson.
Lt. Finlayson has been a firefighter in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 1997 and was nominated as the Grand Rapids Firefighter of the Year in 2011.
Stephen Colafella, Lt. Finlayson's attorney, reports that his client is relieved the charges have been dropped but is concerned with how these charges will affect his reputation.
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