Saturday, May 23, 2009

Sgt Mark Fitzpatrick Arraigned on Sexual Assault Charge

LOS ANGELES

A Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant has been arraigned on charges of sexually assaulting a woman and inappropriately searching two others in separate incidents while on duty.

Mark Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and one misdemeanor Friday in Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Fitzpatrick threatened one woman with arrest or deportation while he sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says investigators began a criminal investigation immediately after getting a report of the alleged misconduct last year.

Whitmore says Fitzpatrick was assigned to a desk job at the Compton station then was suspended without pay after the charges were filed.
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More information: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sheriff23-2009may23,0,3979260.story

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