Philadelphia Police Officer Surrenders To Face Rape Charges
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia police officer accused of rape has turned himself in for arrest.
Eyewitness News captured exclusive video of Officer Keith Corley leaving Internal Affairs in handcuffs. The District Attorney's office charged the officer with Rape, Involuntary Deviant Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Assault, Indecent Assault, Indecent Exposure and Official Oppression.
Authorities say Corley, assigned to the 18th Police District, was on duty, in uniform and in a marked police car when he assaulted a woman.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said, "We are committed to rooting out those individuals who would violate the trust of the public."
The criminal investigation against the 27-year-old officer began on August 11th after a 32-year-old woman alleged he sexually assaulted her.
The woman told police, she was trying to get home after work, was waiting for a bus that never showed at 52nd and Market Streets. She then spotted officer Corley in his patrol car. She flagged him down and asked for a ride. She says he agreed then took her to an area in Cobbs Creek and forced her to perform a sex act in the back seat of the squad car. The woman told investigators, the officer then dropped her off at the 69th Street Terminal, as agreed, after the attack.
Ramsey added, "The police lab did an excellent job on this in fact it wasn't easy to get the evidence they needed to get. They followed through, didn't give up until they got what they needed to present to the D.A."
Commissioner Ramsey says DNA evidence was analyzed, the incident investigated and this is the end result: Officer Corley under arrest.
"Obviously, it's something of great concern. It's another, you know, black mark against the Department but again it doesn't represent everyone on the Department. None of this is tolerable and we'll take whatever action we need to take to rid our ranks of them," Ramsey said.
Sources say Officer Corley was suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.
The 27-year-old officer had been on the force for four years. Corley has not yet spoken publicly to tell his side of the story.
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
