NY State Trooper And NYPD Officer Arrested For Alleged Atlantic City Sex Assault
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New York State trooper and a New York Police Department officer are facing sexual assault charges.
Police in Atlantic City said the arrests follow a six month investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a 34-year-old New York woman at the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in April.
State Trooper Devon Thomas, 35, and NYPD Officer Andrei Torres, 32, are charged with aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault by force but without injury, police said.
Thomas, of Hollis, Queens, is a three-year veteran of the New York State Police and Torres, of Middle Village, Queens, is a seven-year veteran of the NYPD, officials said.
Torres was arraigned in Queens County Criminal Court on Wednesday and Thomas was arraigned in Westchester County, Atlantic City Police Sgt. Monica McMenamin said. Both waived an extradition hearing and are expected to be taken to New Jersey to face charges.
Their lawyers said they are innocent.
"Mr. Thomas is 100 percent innocent,'' said Thomas' lawyer, Joseph Levine. "He does not engage in any criminal wrongdoing, especially nothing of a sexual nature.''
Torres' lawyer, John Zarych said the evidence would prove his client innocent. "This is a mistake, a mistake we will correct as soon as possible,'' Zarych said. "He's an excellent officer with the NYPD and is just simply innocent of these charges.''
The lawyers said both men served in the U.S. military in Iraq and that Thomas also served in Afghanistan.
Authorities have not released details of the alleged assault.
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