San Diego Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting Women He Pulled Over on Suspicion of Driving Under the Influence
In San Diego Officer Anthony Arevalos is possibly facing 11 years or more for the sexual allegations against him from female victims he would pull over.
Victims are saying that 40- year old Arevalos was trying to extract sexual favors from them when he would pull them over. He is facing almost a dozen charges including sexual battery by restraint and false imprisonment. On Monday, during his arraignment, the officer pleaded not guilty to the charges. There have been many victims who are now coming forward with their stories and filing complaints. The victims’ ages range from twenty to thirty.
Sherry Thompson, Deputy District attorney, explained in court that Arevalos would pull women over for “drunk driving” with the intention of asking for sexual favors in return for their release. Thompson described that " ... while it is still preliminary and early on in the investigation, we have identified the fact that many of these girls appeared to be students... young women, who he attempts to identify what it is that they think is of value in their personal nature, asking them what they're working on, what they're studying, so that he can identify for them specifically that they do have a lot at stake." He would use this as a scare tactic to elicit sexual favors from them.
For example, on March 8th, one of the alleged victims was pulled over in the Gaslamp and blew above a .08 percent on a chemical breath test. Arevalos explained to the woman that he would not charge her if she gave him something in exchange. The woman and Officer Arevalos went to a nearby 7-Eleven bathroom where he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. The 7-Eleven surveillance tape has footage of the incident. Another incident similar to this one occurred in December where he pulled over an underage woman on suspicion of driving under the influence. He asked her for sex in exchange for her release.
SDPD Officer Accused Of Sexual Battery Pleads Not Guilty, San Diego 10 News, March 22, 2011
Web Related Resources:
California DMV: Pulled over for DUI
California DMV on what happens when you’re arrested for DUI
If you have been arrested and charged with a San Diego DUI, trust your case to an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer. Victor A. Orsatti at the San Diego Law Center will explain all of your legal options during a free consultation.
