The Cook County States Attorney in a press release May 12, 2011 announced that
“TWO CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT WHILE ON DUTY
Two Chicago Police Officers have been charged with Criminal Sexual Assault and Official Misconduct in connection with incidents in which the officers, while on duty and in their official capacities, picked up women on the North Side and sexually assaulted them, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced today.
Officer Paul Clavijo, 38, and Officer Juan Vasquez, also 38, appeared in bond court today on charges of Criminal Sexual Assault (Class 1 felony) and Official Misconduct (Class 3 felony) in connection with the assault of a 22-year-old woman that occurred March 30. Clavijo has also been charged with Criminal Sexual Assault and Official Misconduct in connection with a separate assault against a 26-year-old woman that occurred earlier in March.
Clavijo and Vasquez have both been employed as Chicago Police Officers for 10 years.
“Citizens are expected to follow the orders of police officers and to respect their authority. In these cases, these officers committed a disgusting violation of that
trust,” Alvarez said. “And adding insult to injury they had the audacity to commit these acts while they were on duty and being paid by taxpayers to serve and protect. It is a disheartening and brazen violation of the public trust that will not be tolerated.”
Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard said the offenses are insulting to hardworking Chicago police officers.
“The actions of these officers infuriate the thousands of honorable and proud officers that make up the Chicago Police Department, who have taken an oath to protect the citizens of Chicago,” Hillard said. “There is zero tolerance for anyone who disgraces the badge by breaking the law and violating the law and the public’s trust.”
According to prosecutors, the incident in which both officers are charged occurred on March 30 at approximately 2 a.m. while the officers were working in the area of Addison and Sheffield in Chicago. While in their marked vehicle the officers observed the victim walking alone when they stopped and picked her up. The victim, who had been drinking alcohol earlier that evening, attempted to enter the back seat of the vehicle but was told by the officers to get in the front seat.
After she entered the vehicle the officers drove to a store where it is alleged that Vasquez parked the vehicle and went in the store to purchase alcohol. While Vasquez was in the store, prosecutors say Clavijo sexually assaulted the woman in the Chicago Police Department vehicle.
The officers then drove to the woman’s apartment where it is alleged they drank alcohol with the victim, played strip poker with her, removed their clothing and sexually assaulted her. The victim, who was extremely intoxicated, began to scream and pound on her apartment walls and her neighbors’ doors seeking help.
According to prosecutors, after the woman ran screaming for help, witnesses observed a man running naked down the hallway and responding police officers recovered the cell phone and part of the Chicago Police uniform of Vasquez in the victim’s apartment.
The other incident in which Clavijo is charged occurred March 10 at approximately 1 a.m. while both officers were on duty together in the area of Clark and Sheffield. Again, while in their marked vehicle, the officers observed a woman walking alone and stopped and offered her a ride.
The officers drove the victim home and asked to come into the apartment to use the restroom. Once in the apartment, as his partner was using the restroom, prosecutors allege that Clavijo followed the woman into her bedroom where he is alleged to have pushed her onto the bed, pulled down her pants and performed a sex act on her. When the woman objected the officers left the apartment. According to prosecutors the victim did not immediately report the assault because she worked in the area and was intimidated because the offenders were police officers and knew where she lived.
Alvarez thanked Interim Superintendent Hillard and the Chicago Police Department for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.
The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
