Officer sexually assaults 16-year-old driver involved in car crash, Georgia police say
A Georgia officer was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Anthony Anderson faces charges including sexual battery and aggravated sodomy after he was accused of forcing himself on the 16-year-old who had been involved in a crash, the department said in a news release.
He was booked into jail Thursday, Oct. 5, online records show. Authorities said Anderson was immediately removed from the Field Operations Division, though it’s not clear if he’s been fired.
“Not only am I disturbed and disappointed by these allegations, but it also angers me,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said in a statement.
“We ask the public to trust us to do the right thing, to keep them safe,” Schierbaum added. “So, when one of our own is accused of despicable acts with a minor, it erodes that trust that sometimes takes years to build.”
Authorities began investigating the Aug. 2 incident after the teen reported it to police in neighboring Gwinnett County, the release said.
Investigators learned Anderson had responded to a single-car crash earlier that morning. He met the teen driver, and “subsequent actions by Officer Anderson during and after his shift would lead to a criminal investigation,” Atlanta police said.
The officer was also accused of withholding medical attention from the teen after the crash and forcing her to perform sex acts, WXIA reported, citing arrest warrants. Investigators said the alleged assault occurred after Anderson’s shift.
Officers also secured warrants on charges of violation of oath of office and second-degree child cruelty, police said.
Records show Anderson joined the department in August 2015. He’s had at least four citizen complaints filed against him since 2018, including two that resulted in written reprimands, according to the documents.
Atlanta police didn’t give details on what led to the complaints.
Anderson remained in custody at the Fulton County Jail as of Friday, online records show. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
This story was originally published October 6, 2023 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Officer sexually assaults 16-year-old driver involved in car crash, Georgia police say."