3-Day Suspension for a Cop's Sexual Assault? Terrifying Impunity in TX Police
AUSTIN (CN) - An Austin police officer sexually assaulted a woman in the back seat of his cruiser, and she's not the first one he molested, she claims in court.
Jane Doe sued Austin, its police chief, and her alleged assailant, Officer Jackie Len Neal, in Federal Court.
Doe claims Neal followed her for blocks on Nov. 22, 2013, then pulled her over and told her the car had been stolen. Doe says she told him that was impossible, as her father had just bought it and she had all the paperwork.
Neal handcuffed her and searched the car for drugs - then he searched her, groping and fondling her, Doe says in the complaint.
The lawsuit continues: "She yelled for him to stop, and demanded that a female officer be brought to the scene. At this point, the defendant became enraged, and told the plaintiff to remain quiet. Defendant Neal continued to fondle the plaintiff's breasts and also put his hands into the plaintiff's pants. Defendant Neal then forced the plaintiff to bend over with her face in the rear seat of the Police SUV. Defendant Neal pulled plaintiff's pants and underwear down to her ankles and proceeded to sexually assault her. Upon completion of the sexual assault, defendant Neal informed the plaintiff that he knew where she lived, and that if she informed anyone he would know where to find her. The defendant then immediately exited and literally left the plaintiff in that state as he drove off."
Doe says the assault left her "troubled and discombobulated," and afraid for her life. Only after a friend coaxed her into telling what had happened did she report the sexual assault to authorities, Doe says.
The complaint adds: "It should be noted that, for reasons unknown, the dash camera in defendant Neal's vehicle was not functioning. Defendant Neal was arrested later that night and charged with sexual assault."
It continues, frighteningly: "After his arrest, defendant Neal presented himself at the residence in which the plaintiff was staying, and identified himself as 'Jack,' and stat(ed) he was looking for the plaintiff. The plaintiff's grandmother informed Jack that the plaintiff was not there, and that she was going to call the police. Defendant Neal was apprehended again by the San Antonio Police and was arrested for civil rights violations."
Doe says in the lawsuit that Neal has been charged with sexual assault, civil rights violations and official oppression.
She claims San Antonio and its police chief, William McManus, have a pattern and practice of letting police officers get away with outrages like this.
She claims that Neal had sex with a high school student in the police Explorer program in 2011, and again in February 2013, conduct she calls "morally reprehensible and inappropriate."
Neal was dumb enough to put some of his sexual pursuit into text messages, according to the complaint.
Doe claims Neal was suspended for 3 days after the department found out about his text messages - just 10 weeks before he sexually assaulted her.
Doe adds: "The scenario in (Doe's) assault is almost identical to what occurred in February 2013. Defendant Neal sexually assaulted a teenage girl, and was arrested for the sexual assault. Immediately after posting bond, defendant Neal stalked the plaintiff and went to her house. He was re-arrested, for civil rights violations.
"Despite having knowledge that defendant Neal had carried on a sexual relationship with a high school student, the San Antonio Police Department continued to employ defendant Neal, and merely slapped his wrist with a three (3) day suspension; not for having a relationship with the high school student, but for disobeying an order to stay away from the youth. The conduct of San Antonio Police Department regarding defendant Neal is outrageous and clearly is a violation of the plaintiff's constitutional rights against illegal search and seizures under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Doe seeks punitive damages.
She is represented by Tim Maloney.