A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested and charged on Thursday following an investigation into allegations of misconduct. The officer is accused of fondling a deceased woman’s breasts while responding to an overdose call in October. The alleged incident was reportedly captured on the officer’s body camera.
Officer David Rojas, 27, was charged with a felony violation of state health and safety code, specifically for “having sexual contact with human remains without authority,” according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. This charge highlights the severity with which such police misconduct is viewed under the law.
The LAPD Internal Affairs Division arrested Rojas on Thursday. He was subsequently released on a $20,000 bond, according to The Associated Press, citing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate locator website. If convicted, he could face up to three years in state prison. The swift action by the Internal Affairs Division underscores the department’s commitment to addressing allegations of officer misconduct seriously.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that typically provides legal counsel for the LAPD’s 10,000 members, issued a statement indicating they would not defend Rojas in any criminal proceedings. “We hope that District Attorney Jackie Lacey charging Mr. Rojas for his vile alleged crime will bring some solace to the deceased woman’s family during their time of grieving,” the union’s board said in a statement. “His alleged behavior is abhorrent and an affront to every law enforcement professional working for the LAPD.”
LAPD Chief Michel Moore also commented on the incident, stating, “This incident is extremely disturbing and does not represent the values of the Los Angeles Police Department.” His statement, reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles, emphasizes the department’s stance against such behavior and its commitment to upholding public trust.
Rojas and his partner had responded to a report of a possible dead woman in a residential unit on Oct. 20. After the officers determined the woman had died, the partner returned to the patrol car to retrieve something, the Los Angeles Times first reported. At that point, Rojas allegedly deactivated his body camera and fondled the dead woman before later reactivating the camera. The exact duration of time the officer was left alone remains unclear.
The incident was captured on video despite the officer deactivating his camera due to a two-minute buffer on the device, according to Fox 11. LAPD officer body cameras automatically save video and audio for two minutes after the device is initially deactivated. This feature proved crucial in documenting the alleged misconduct.
Police officials conducting a random audit of the officer’s body camera videos discovered the incriminating footage, according to a person briefed on the incident. The person wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the case and spoke to The Associated Press last week on condition of anonymity.
The LAPD is also reportedly investigating Rojas’ work history. The four-year veteran was placed on leave and stripped of his police powers last week during an internal investigation of the incident. He had been assigned to downtown’s Central Division.
(Feature image: Max Pixel)