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UPD officer accused of stalking appears in court

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SALT LAKE CITY - A Unified Police officer charged with stalking a former girlfriend was in court on Monday.

Charges against veteran officer Neil Poff outline an alleged pattern of stalking and electronic harassment that went on for several months last year.

Poff and the alleged victim dated then lived together in 2010, but when she tried breaking things off later that year, she says the harassment began.

The alleged victim says the harassment escalated after she complained to his supervisors at Unified Police, and that Poff hacked her cell phone, texting service, email and Facebook accounts.

The allegations first came to light last summer, and Poff was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the district attorney's office. He was arrested and charged two weeks ago.

Poff bailed out of jail and appeared at a scheduling conference on Monday. He hasn't said much about his side of the story.

"We're not going to try the case in the media. There are two sides to any story and he'll have his chance and his day in court," said Poff's defense attorney Paul Christensen.

Poff's next court appearance is scheduled for March.

Related story:
UPD officer charged for alleged stalking, sexual harassment