Former Eastern Michigan LB Daniel Holtzclaw Accused In 6 Sexual Assaults
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/WWJ) — An Oklahoma City police officer is accused of sexually assaulting at least six women during traffic stops, and investigators are trying to track down yet more potential victims.
Daniel Ken Holtzclaw, 27, was arrested Thursday on complaints of rape, forcible oral sodomy, sexual battery and indecent exposure, The Oklahoman reported (http://bit.ly/1twlXDV ).
Holtzclaw stopped women while he was working, forced them to expose themselves, fondled them and in at least one instance had intercourse with a woman, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty said at a news conference Thursday.
The department began investigating Holtzclaw after a woman complained to police June 18, the chief said. Holtzclaw was placed on leave that day.
"We started the investigation and we started looking at traffic stops he had made throughout the previous months to try to identify and initiate contact with females that we knew he had stopped during that period of time ... to see if they had been sexually assaulted," Citty said.
Authorities have statements from six victims and expect a statement from a seventh, Citty said. He said investigators believe there could be yet more.
Holtzclaw ended his college career in 2008 as the school's second leading tackler.
"All of his victims were black females and ranged in the ages of 34 to 58," Citty said. "The type of acts that were committed were anything from just requiring the females to expose themselves to fondling the females. There was one individual out of all seven that was actually sexually assaulted, it was actually intercourse."
Records indicate Holtzclaw was being held at the Oklahoma County Jail in lieu of $5 million bond. The records don't list an attorney, and jail staff said they could not provide attorney information.
"There's a good possibility that there may be more victims," Citty said. "Obviously we're releasing a picture and if there's anyone that was victimized by this officer, we certainly want to hear from you."
Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, who also attended the news conference, said he anticipates charges against Holtzclaw will be filed by Aug. 29.
Holtzclaw played football at Eastern Michigan from 2005-2008.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
