A woman’s lawsuit against Brawley, California, for rape by a police officer who arrested her for DUI was settled Wednesday for $1 million.
The civil suit filed in 2021 alleged that former Brawley police officer Ricardo Gabriel Valdez drove the woman back to her residence in a patrol car, where she awoke to find him having sex with her.
California Officer Confessed
The woman’s complaint states that Valdez left the DUI citation at her bedside when he left.
The woman identified only as Jane Doe, said in a statement obtained by the Los Angeles Times, “This terrible incident has changed my life, and I’m glad I can start to put it behind me.” “I am disheartened and angry that a police officer abused his badge.”
Attorneys for the woman described the officer’s actions as “arrogant, malicious, sadistic, demeaning to human dignity, and cruel.”
According to the lawsuit, the officer’s sperm was discovered in the woman’s residence. Valdez reportedly admitted to having sex with the woman, but claimed their sexual encounter was voluntary.
Read more: Florida police confirm several teenage shootings in rural region; consider out serial killer
Case’s Dismissal
In 2020, multiple felonies, including sexual battery, rape, and burglary, were filed against Valdez. Following an investigation, the charges were dismissed the following year.
The court records do not explain why the case was dismissed, but the Times cites local media reports stating that prosecutors told the judge that investigators discovered exculpatory information that seriously questions the credibility of the complaining witness.
Valdez has been placed on paid leave while the investigation is ongoing. After some time, he made the decision to leave the police department.
We reached out to city officials in Brawley and the attorneys representing the city in the lawsuit, but neither responded to our request for comment on the settlement. The lawyers for Valdez didn’t say a word either.
More than 26,000 people reside in the city of Brawley, which is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of the international border between the United States and Mexico.
Read more: Florida: Man arrested for threatening mass shooting in his workplace
