Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Officer Jared Rohrig Charged with Sexual Assault Resigns

A police officer arrested last month for allegedly pretending to be his twin brother to dupe a woman into sex has resigned from the department, police said Tuesday.

Probationary Officer Jared Rohrig, 25, of 7 Flax Mill Lane, Milford, who is charged with first-degree sexual assault and criminal impersonation, had been on paid administrative leave from the Police Department since July.

Rohrig submitted his resignation and it was accepted Monday by the Board of Police Commissioners, police said.

“Jared Rohrig’s decision to resign from his position as probationary officer was in his best interest, as well as the best interests of the town of Orange,” Police Chief Robert Gagne said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Rohrig was hired as a probationary officer July 11, 2008.

Gagne could not be reached for further comment on Rohrig’s resignation.

Rohrig’s attorney, Edward J. Gavin of Bridgeport, said his client’s resignation is “separate and distinct from the criminal case.”

“I don’t really have much to say about the resignation,” Gavin said. “It is not an admission of any wrongdoing, Jared was a probationary police officer. He exercised his judgment as a probationary officer to resign. It is not an admission of guilt in any way or form and he thought it was appropriate given the circumstances as a probationary police officer.”

As a probationary officer, Rohrig was not a member of the police union, and did not have the benefit of any collective bargaining agreements, Gavin said.

He has said his client intends to plead not guilty at his next court date Oct. 7.

The arrest warrant affidavit in the case says the woman in the case told Milford police she realized the man she believed to be Joseph Rohrig did not have a tattoo of a cowboy on his buttocks and was therefore Jared. She told police she then tried to leave, but allegedly was forced back on the bed with a pillow over her face and sexually assaulted.

The incident allegedly took place late July 18 and into early July 19 at the Flax Mill Lane home where both Jared and Joseph Rohrig live with their family. The home is owned by their mother, Milford Board of Education Minority Leader Joanne Rohrig. Joanne Rohrig announced last month that she would not seek re-election, so she could spend more time with her family.

According to the arrest affidavit, Jared and Joseph Rohrig were home when the woman arrived at the house, but Joseph had gone to his room before she left her car. The woman said Jared referred to himself as “Joe” to trick her while the two were alone in a hot tub at the house, it says.

But Jared’s sister allegedly called to him by name, asking him to turn down the music, the warrant affidavit says. The woman told police she did not hear what Jared’s sister said.

Jared Rohrig is free on $50,000 bail. His case will be transferred to the Part A docket, where more serious cases are heard.

“Obviously, Jared maintains his innocence. ... There is a presumption of innocence, and this is an innocent man,” Gavin said after Jared Rohrig’s recent appearance at Superior court in Milford.

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