Officer Accused of Stripping, Touching Woman During Call

A Cathedral City police officer is under investigation by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for misconduct after a resident filed a complaint early Wednesday.

The alleged incident involves the officer and three women in a Cathedral City back yard pool on the 35000 block of Maria Road.

According to three women, the officer arrived at their house just before 4 a.m. Wednesday after police received a report of a loud noise coming form the back yard. Cathedral City Police call logs confirm the time.

“He started asking me why I wasn’t in the pool with the girls,” said the homeowner, who didn’t want to be identified.

He let the officer inside his home.

A woman who wanted to be identified as Sonia said she was clothed and in the pool. She said the officer made his way back to the pool’s edge.

“My friend said, ‘Do you want to come in?’ She didn’t have to ask him twice,” she said. “When I turned around and saw him all naked, I thought, ‘He’s not playing.'”

She said it got worse.

“He started touching her; she was feeling uncomfortable,” she said.

The homeowner said he didn’t know what to do. He got out his cell phone and started taking pictures.

A Riverside County District Attorney investigator took the cell phone as evidence along with three towels the women were using.

The Cathedral City Police Department contacted the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to conduct a criminal investigation. The police department is conducing a professional standards investigation.

“The allegations can be seen as very serious. It comes down to the public’s trust. We want them to know we’re doing it the right way with an outside agency and an internal investigation,” said Lt. Chuck Robinson.

The officer is on paid administrative leave pending the results of the criminal and internal investigations. He was not arrested, and he has been on the force for over 5 years.