Attempted murder charge against NOPD detective to be dropped

An attempted murder charge against a detective with the New Orleans Police Department will be dropped, according to Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman.

Robert Hurst, a 10 year veteran of the NOPD, pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted murder and battery charges. He was placed on emergency suspension without pay on Friday following allegations of domestic abuse.

Bowman stated on Tuesday that senior level ADAs reviewed the case and decided that essential elements to prove Hurst's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt were not there. The charge will be dropped Wednesday.

Hurst still faces a simple battery charge, Bowman tells FOX 8.

The Public Integrity Bureau launched an investigation into Hurst on April 25, 2014 after receiving a complaint, police say.

In conjunction with the PIB investigation, the New Orleans District Attorney's Office filed criminal charges against Hurst last week. Hurst was then charged with attempted second degree murder and relative simple battery.

Hurst's attorney, Eric Hessler, described the accuser as a "disgruntled girlfriend." Hessler said he's confident his client will ultimately be cleared.

Hurst is a 10-year veteran of the NOPD and was most recently assigned to the Fifth District.

Hurst made headlines in March of 2011 after photos and videos posted on a video-upload website showed a woman wearing a real NOPD uniform shirt inside two Uptown bars. Sources have identified Hurst as the officer in those pictures, still wearing what appears to be his uniform pants and a T-shirt.

Following the incident, Hurst was briefly assigned to desk duty.

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