For days after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman during a May 2008 traffic stop, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Mark Fitzpatrick left messages on the woman's home phone in an effort to see her again, according to audio recordings obtained by The Times.
"I just want to call and tell you good night," the married sergeant said during a 4:22 a.m. call, made just hours after the alleged assault. "I can't wait to talk to you soon."
Four days later, when his messages apparently went unanswered, he struck a more desperate tone.
"Getting the hint you don't want me to call and bug you anymore," Fitzpatrick said. "I hope I am wrong. . . . I really like you."
Prosecutors last month charged Fitzpatrick with sexually assaulting the 31-year-old single mother from Downey. They allege he pulled her over, threatened to arrest or deport her and then touched her genitals against her will.
That same month, he sexually abused two other women while on duty, prosecutors said.
Fitzpatrick, through his attorney, has denied any wrongdoing.
According to interviews and law enforcement records, these are not the first accusations of sexual misconduct against Fitzpatrick during his 19 years with the Sheriff's Department.
County prosecutors reviewed a similar on-duty sexual assault complaint against him 10 years ago but declined to file criminal charges because of insufficient evidence, according to records of the district attorney's office.
And Sheriff's Department officials had investigated charges that he exposed himself to women twice while off duty, law enforcement sources said.
"The pattern here makes it a most troublesome case," said Michael Gennaco, head of the county's Office of Independent Review, a county watchdog agency.
"It is unfortunate that more wasn't done in 1999 to identify additional victims," he said.
District attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said prosecutors were aware of other accusations, "but we aren't going to comment on the exact number yet, or the circumstances."
The charges against Fitzpatrick and the evidence that the department knew of previous allegations underscore the problem law enforcement agencies face in dealing with charges of sexual assaults by officers.
Sexual assault cases in general are often difficult to prove because of the lack of witnesses other than the accuser and accused.
The problem is even more difficult when the person alleged to have committed the assault is a sworn officer.
Although authorities have declined to release many details about the current allegations against Fitzpatrick, the woman has filed a civil lawsuit in which she gives her version of events.
She said she was driving in Paramount at 2:50 a.m. when Fitzpatrick pulled her over and questioned her about being drunk. She alleges that he said he suspected she was drunk and informed her she was driving on a suspended license and without insurance.
Fitzpatrick asked her what she would do to avoid going to jail and then asked her to show him her breasts. He touched her breast, the suit states. Fitzpatrick then followed the woman to her home and in the driveway touched her genitals, the suit alleges.
That allegation is similar to what another woman told authorities Fitzpatrick did to her on June 26, 1999. According to district attorney records, Fitzpatrick and his patrol partner stopped a car they suspected was being driven by someone under the influence of alcohol.
_________________
More of the story: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sheriff5-2009jul05,0,2474245.story
No comments:
Post a Comment