Dartmouth Officer Facing Charges Resigns

A Dartmouth police officer facing criminal charges after being accused of groping a department store employee has resigned.

Police Chief Timothy Lee says Officer John Costa submitted his resignation on April 4 and it took effect Saturday.

The chief tells The Standard-Times the resignation doesn't affect the pending criminal case against the 51-year-old Costa.

Costa is charged with one count of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and two counts of assault and battery for allegedly inappropriately touching the woman at Macy's in the Dartmouth Mall on Nov. 25 while he was on duty and assigned to the mall.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Prior to his resignation, Costa had been on paid administrative leave.