This Teenager Accused Two On-Duty Cops Of Rape. She Had No Idea The Law Might Protect Them.

Buzzfeed ^

[JP1201]

Inside, Anna said the detectives took turns raping her in the backseat as the van cruised the dark streets and as she sat handcuffed, crying and repeatedly telling them “No.” Between assaults, she said, the van pulled over so the cops could switch drivers. Less than an hour later, a few minutes’ drive from where it all began, the detectives dropped Anna off on the side of the road, a quarter-mile from a police station, surveillance footage shows. She stood on the sidewalk, her arms wrapped around her chest, looking up and down the dimly lit street and pacing slowly before borrowing a cell phone from a passerby to call a friend.

The cops made no arrest, issued no citation, filed no paperwork about the stop. Hours later, Anna and her mother went to a hospital, where Anna told nurses two detectives had sexually assaulted her, according to hospital records. Semen collected in Anna’s rape kit matched the DNA of detectives Eddie Martins, 37, and Richard Hall, 33, of the Brooklyn South narcotics unit. Both have since resigned from the force and been charged with rape.

But Anna didn’t know that in New York, there is no law specifically stating that it is illegal for police officers or sheriff’s deputies in the field to have sex with someone in their custody. It is one of 35 states where armed law enforcement officers can evade sexual assault charges by claiming that such an encounter — from groping to intercourse — was consensual.

[Enterprise]

"i don’t think cops are ever vetted for their ethics and morality."

Do background checks, physical examinations, psychological interviews, and pre-hire polygraphs count as vetting?

[metmom]

There's a possibility that she struck a deal with them: "let me go without arresting me (for drugs or whatever) and I'll have sex with you both". It would still at least be corruption, and they still should have been fired.

Then they were fools for falling for it and thinking that she would not come back later and charge them with rape.

*IF* their claim is true, then they exercised very poor judgment at least and that alone should disqualify them from serving as LEO'S.

I'd prefer wiser cops out on the street.

[Boogieman]

“Nobody hates criminal cops more than other cops, because almost all cops are good people.”

The fact that cops usually close ranks to protect the bad ones makes me very skeptical of that assertion.

[Don W]

Nobody hates criminal cops more than other cops, because almost all cops are good people.

If this is true, why do those of the "Thin Blue Line" close ranks and defend their fellow officers EVERY time one is accused of lawless activity?

If the police were more open and honest about the "bad apples" in their barrel, and actively sought them out and removed them, your statement would be true.

Then there is the whole "Us versus Them" attitude of nearly every officer out there.

Don't misunderstand, I have several friends who are active and retired police officers, and they admit to what I posited above. Drop the whole "we v they" thing, clean up the dirty cops as best you can, and we can start afresh.

[imardmd1]

Nah. Didn’t read it. Just went on the text posted and comments. Poor excerpt. Great male “friends.” So . . . thanks for asking.

[raybbr]

@@@Nobody hates criminal cops more than other cops, because almost all cops are good people.@@@

And, yet they do nothing about them. Where is the honor in that?

[TheBattman]

Typical buzzfeed hyperbole for click-bait.

That being said - this does highlight a real issue that is much bigger than this pair of scumbags raping this girl (and it is rape, whether they simply forced themselves on her, threatened her, or “struck a deal to let her go” kind of bargain - they all still qualify as rape/sexual assault.

Which brings us to the bigger problem - those in positions of “trust” - whether it be police officers, school teachers, pastors, etc - should be held to a higher standard because of their position of power and influence - particularly in dealing with folks who are impressionable or in a serious position of weakness.

Penalties should ramp up dramatically for crimes committed under the guise of their positions. The crime itself + the violation/abuse of their position and power.

[TheBattman]

Maybe I missed it - but what reason did she give for having been “arrested” and handcuffed in the first place?

[Dark Knight]

Since there were two guns (minimum) will there be a firearm enhancement?

DK

[Boogieman]

“There’s no law specifically stating that it is illegal for anyone to have sex with someone else.”

Not true. There are plenty of laws that say it is illegal for prison guards to have sex with inmates, or for teachers to have sex with students. Cops are in a similar position of power and authority over people they detain or arrest, so why should they be treated differently?

[Boogieman]

If that is the case, then why weren’t her two male companions arrested (one of whom was driving the vehicle the drugs were actually found in, and therefore was the primary “possessor”, and also chargeable with driving under influence)?

To believe that they let the primary criminal go without making a “deal” and then struck a deal with only the girl is preposterous.

[TheBattman]

Sure - (though I’m not as much a fan of firearms “enhancements” unless the firearm is actually part of the crime).

[Boogieman]

“No arrest here...”

Her two witnesses will surely testify otherwise, when they tell how they saw the cops take her handcuffed into custody. That’s an arrest, even if it an illegal one that they filed no paperwork on.

[thefactor]

And the hundreds of thousands of people who die every year at the hands of negligent and/or criminal acts by healthcare professionals? Nah, you don’t care about that. You just like all the negative stories about cops the media shoves down your throat. Cool.

[MeganC]

“Oh great, another cop thread to draw out the cop hating stormfront trolls.”

Oh, I see. So anyone who doesn’t bow down and worship the Order of the Sacred Badge is a Jew-hating, racist, Neo-Nazi, Stormfront troll?

And you think that an attitude like that is going to deflect hatred at the rapists with badges and instead engender the enduring respect and gratitude of We The People?

Good luck with that.

[PapaBear3625]

To believe that they let the primary criminal go without making a “deal” and then struck a deal with only the girl is preposterous.

Not that preposterous, if the deal WAS to let them both go, after the girl serviced the two cops, with the guy then owing the girl a big favor.

I'm not saying I approve of the cops actions, nor that I wouldn't want them terminated. I'm just putting forward a scenario I consider plausible.

[rednesss]

[MeganC]

Firefighters are not 100% honest.

Check Google and you’ll find the ironic fact that numerous firefighters have been convicted of...wait for it...

Arson.

You’re welcome. (-:

[Yo-Yo]

You're right, they shouldn't be treated differently, but you are deliberately being obtuse with my argument by cherrypicking that one sentence out of the complete context.

Of course there are laws against having sex with minors, etc. My specific point was that there is no law against two consenting adults, in general, with all of your caveats, from having sex. Nor is there a law permitting sex between two adults.

The title of this article that stated "She Had No Idea The Law Might Protect Them" from rape charges is blatantly incorrect. Just because there is no law prohibiting sex between an officer and a detainee, that doesn't give the officer carte blanche to commit rape.

My issue is not with the laws of New York, but with the headline writers at Buzzfeed.

[Mr.Unique]

You just like all the negative stories about cops the media shoves down your throat. Cool.

I'll defer to your obvious expertise in having stuff shoved down your throat.