Long Island police officer charged with forcing woman to perform oral sex after arrest

A Long Island police office was arrested Thursday (27 July) for allegedly forcing a woman he detained to perform oral sex on him in a police station in March.

Suffolk County Officer Christopher McCoy was charged with one count of violating the woman's civil rights, according to Reuters. The 38-year-old was expected to appear at a federal court on Long Island, New York.

McCoy and his partner arrested the woman, who had several warrants for unresolved vehicle and traffic offences, on 16 March.

According to US prosecutors, McCoy allegedly assaulted the woman in the juvenile room of the First Precinct in Wyandanch two separate times after her arrest.

At one point, McCoy allegedly grabbed the woman by the jaw and said: "Let's go, don't make this hard," a criminal complaint made public said.

Prosecutors said the alleged abuse stopped when someone entered the room but resumed later that day.

According to Reuters, the unnamed woman filed a civil lawsuit in May against McCoy, his partner and Suffolk County for at least $5m on each of eight counts.

Newsday reported McCoy had been suspended without pay since April. The lawsuit revealed McCoy was then fired following an FBI investigation.

McCoy initially denied the charged but admitted to FBI agents on 6 April that he had engaged in oral sex with the woman after he was told they had a warrant for his DNA sample. The sample was analysed and found to be a match to a stain left on the woman's shirt following the encounter.

William Sweeney, the head of the FBI's New York office, urged any other possible victims to come forward, The Associated Press reported.

"Police officers are held to a high standard, as they should be, and they certainly don't have the authority to disrespect any human being," Sweeney said. "This type of conduct threatens the reputation of the vast majority of law enforcement officials who serve each day with honour and integrity."