An Atlanta police officer was arrested Thursday after being accused of sexual assault against a teenage girl he met at the scene of a crash, authorities said.
Anthony Lamar Anderson Sr., who was hired by the department as a cadet in 2015, was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sodomy, second-degree cruelty to children and violation of oath of office. Atlanta police have not said if Anderson was fired.
An investigation began soon after Anderson was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash during the early morning hours of Aug. 2. At the scene, he met with the 16-year-old driver, and the “subsequent actions by Officer Anderson during and after his shift would lead to a criminal investigation,” according to the police department.
Anderson caused the victim to experience “excessive physical or mental pain by not having medical personnel check the victim for injuries after a car accident despite medical personnel arriving on the scene,” according to warrants for his arrest. Instead, he is alleged to have forced her into sexual acts “without her consent,” the warrant states. It is unclear if the assault took place at the scene of the crash. No other details were provided in the warrants.
The teen reported the alleged sexual assault to Gwinnett County officials that same day. Gwinnett police investigators began looking into the accusation and eventually questioned Anderson on Aug. 11, which was when the Atlanta Police Department was notified.
Anderson was immediately removed from field operations and an internal investigation ensued, officials said.
Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said he was disturbed by the incident and added that it erodes the trust that the community puts in law enforcement.
“We ask the public to trust us to do the right thing, to keep them safe. So, when one of our own is accused of despicable acts with a minor, it erodes that trust that sometimes takes years to build,” Schierbaum said in a statement.
According to Anderson’s disciplinary record with the police department, he received at least three citizen complaints before this year, one of which was sustained and resulted in a written reprimand. A fourth citizen complaint was filed this year and led to a written reprimand and suspension Sept. 21. Details regarding those complaints were not provided by the department.
Anderson became a sworn officer in 2016, according to Peace Officer Standards and Training Council records. His only law enforcement experience in Georgia is with APD, and he has no disciplinary history with POST.
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the department at 404-546-4260. Tipsters can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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