This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
On September 15, 2017, a routine traffic stop in Brooklyn turned into a nightmare for an 18-year-old woman. Two plainclothes detectives from Brooklyn South Narcotics arrested her for carrying a small amount of marijuana, handcuffed her, and led her to the back of a police van.
The woman alleged that the detectives took turns sexually assaulting her during the drive. This incident sparked a push for a law making it a crime for police officers to have sex with people in custody. The law was passed in Albany as the #MeToo movement gained traction.
The two detectives, who failed to report the incident to their superiors, initially faced over 40 charges, including kidnapping, rape, and sexual assault. However, as the case progressed, inconsistencies in the victim's testimony emerged, casting doubt on her original statements.
Cellphone records and security camera evidence revealed that the detectives never left Coney Island, contradicting the woman's claim that they drove along the Belt Parkway and past her grandmother's home in Bay Ridge. The woman had also initially described wearing a miniskirt, which facilitated the attack, but later revealed she was wearing sweatpants. Additionally, she described the van as having bench seats, but it actually had bucket seats.
Advocates for victims of sexual assault noted that it's not uncommon for rape victims to make inconsistent statements due to shame or trauma after an attack. In light of the new revelations, the district attorney dropped the most severe charges in March 2018.
Earlier this year, prosecutors released a letter acknowledging that the woman had made false statements under oath and that her testimony was inconsistent. The two detectives eventually pleaded guilty to lesser crimes.
