A woman has come forward with allegations of rape against an off-duty Anaheim police officer. The incident is said to have occurred in her home in September of last year, and the officer is currently under investigation.
A woman, known as Jane Doe, has recently filed a civil rights lawsuit in Santa Ana. According to her claims, Officer Carlos Romero of the Anaheim Police Department allegedly accessed her contact information by running her vehicle’s license plate number in May 2023 while she was at an In-N-Out Burger drive-thru.
As per the complaint, Romero sent the woman a friend request on Facebook the next day and confessed to checking her license plate while she was waiting in line at the fast-food chain.
The complaint noted that when he asked for her number, she stated that she had given it to him but emphasized that she was not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.
It is alleged that Romero engaged in communication with the woman while on duty and made occasional visits to her home.
The complaint alleged that the woman had given her consent and even engaged in kissing with the police officer, but she declined any offers of sexual intercourse.
On September 25, 2023, upon receiving a message from the officer, she granted him permission to visit. According to the complaint, Romero arrived in his police vehicle and in uniform. The pair engaged in intimate acts, including kissing and oral sex.
According to the complaint, when Romero allegedly digitally penetrated her, the woman expressed hurt and the officer responded by calling her a “brat.”
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The woman claims that the officer proceeded to engage in non-consensual sexual acts with her.
The complaint states that Romero’s gun was on the top cushion of the plaintiff’s couch, visible and accessible to the plaintiff throughout the events. The plaintiff experienced extreme fear and felt her life was in danger. She simply desired Romero’s departure.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office’s Sexual Assault Unit, after careful review of the case, has decided not to file charges. They stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to The O.C. Register, Romero was charged by the OCDA’s special prosecution unit in April for allegedly disclosing Department of Motor Vehicle information without authorization. This database is strictly reserved for law enforcement purposes.
Based on court records cited by KTLA, the officer entered a plea of not guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
A representative from the city of Anaheim informed the Orange County outlet that Romero was relieved of duty in October when the allegations surfaced. An internal investigation into the claims has been ongoing.
A civil suit has been filed against the city of Anaheim and several other police departments or city employees. The plaintiff is seeking damages totaling over $10 million.
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