Baltimore City cop arrested on multiple rape charges after driving woman home on duty
A Baltimore City police officer has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of rape after investigators say DNA evidence linked him to the alleged on-duty sexual assault of a woman in Edgewood, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Daniel Oxendine, a Baltimore police officer since 2017, was taken into custody August 27 following a nearly three-month investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. He was being held at the Harford County Detention Center pending a court appearance.
According to investigators, Oxendine encountered the woman while responding to an unrelated domestic incident in Baltimore City on June 3. The woman reportedly told him she needed transportation to her home in Edgewood. After receiving authorization from his supervisor, Oxendine allegedly drove her there in a police vehicle.
Investigators allege that after arriving at the woman’s residence, Oxendine entered her apartment and sexually assaulted her. The woman subsequently reported the alleged attack and was taken to a hospital, where a sexual assault forensic examination was conducted and evidence, including DNA, was collected.
Authorities said forensic testing later conclusively identified Oxendine as the alleged offender. Detectives then obtained an arrest warrant and, with assistance from the Baltimore Police Department, located and arrested him without incident.
Oxendine faces two counts each of first-degree rape, second-degree rape and engaging in a sexual act with a victim or witness of an investigation by a law enforcement officer. He is also charged with burglary with intent to commit rape and misconduct in office.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler described the allegations as a serious breach of public trust, particularly because the woman had already experienced a traumatic incident before allegedly being victimized again.
“What we discovered was a Baltimore City Police officer had driven this woman from Baltimore City up (to Harford County) after she was involved in some sort of domestic incident down (in the city). (He drove her) in a patrol car, while he was on duty, drove her up here to a residence where the sexual assault and the rape occurred,” said Gahler.
“She did not feel comfortable staying in the city and asked for a ride up here to Harford County to her home. The officer involved, the officer charged, apparently got permission from his supervisor and brought her up here in a police vehicle — which we have on video at the residence.”
The Baltimore Police Department said Oxendine’s police powers had previously been suspended and that he is now suspended without pay. The department also said it is cooperating with the Harford County investigation.
Investigators are now examining whether Oxendine may have been involved in other incidents. Authorities are reviewing prior reports, evidence and information from partner agencies as they work to determine whether additional victims may exist.
Anyone with information about Oxendine or who believes they may have had relevant contact with him is asked to contact Harford County Sheriff’s Detective Golden at 410-836-5430.
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(Sources: Harford County Sheriff’s Office, WBAL-TV, CBS News)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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