OKC police officer charged with rape and sexual assault of at least 7 women during traffic stops

By RYAN GORMAN

An Oklahoma City police officer was arrested on charges of rape, sodomy and sexual assault for actions committed during traffic stops.

The arrest of 27-year-old Daniel Holtzclaw, who has been on the force since 2011, was announced during a press conference Thursday afternoon. Police Chief Bill Citty called him a “serial rapist.”

Authorities know that he sexually abused at least seven women while on duty, Citty said, but acknowledged that there may be several more victims who have not yet come forward.

The alleged corrupt police officer was arrested in the parking lot of a Gold’s Gym on Thursday morning.

Holtzclaw’s actions “stain us all,” Citty said.

The desperate police chief explained that Holtzclaw had “demanded” women to undress during checks and then forced them to perform sexual acts on him.

Citty said Holtzclaw raped at least one of his victims.

The first complaints were received during the month of June, Citty said, and police discovered further cases after reviewing the files.

Holtzclaw is charged with several counts, including first-degree rape, forcible oral sodomy, sexual assault and exhibitionism.

The former high school football star was featured just last year in an article in the Enid News and Eagle that praised his skills on and off the field.

“I was involved in a few chases,” Holtzclaw told the newspaper. “It was fun.”

The rape defendant also talked about how he preferred being on the street rather than in the office.

“I like it because you’re not working behind a desk,” Holtzclaw said. “It’s not the same routine every day. One day I’m helping citizens, and the next day I’m involved in a foot chase or a high-speed chase. It depends what you make of it. You can be a typical cop or you can track down felons and drugs.”

He is being held in the Oklahoma County Jail on $5 million bail.

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