APD responds to allegations against officer

Atlanta Police Department is going on the record about allegations that one of their officers demanded sex from a Georgia Tech student who asked for help getting a ride back to campus.  

FOX 5's Morse Diggs first broke the story on Tuesday.  Typically, Atlanta police commanders will not speak out about a case related to officer conduct while it's in process.  However, they're saying that in this case, it's extremely sensitive and they're aware it carries some extremely negative perceptions.  

The Georgia Tech campus is buzzing about an encounter between the officer and the student who sought his help.  The student realized he had too much to drink, and asked the Zone Two Buckhead officer to drive him back to campus.  But sources say the officer wanted and had a sexual encounter in exchange for providing that ride home.

"If these allegations are true, it is intolerable conduct, unprofessional conduct, conduct that would not be tolerated within the Atlanta Police Department," said APD Maj. D. Tolleson, adding that there is currently both a criminal investigation and an administrative investigation underway.

Barry Martin, the director of MADD, says the incident raises serious concerns.  

"This young man made the right decision, and it's our hope that this incident doesn't shake the public's confidence in law enforcement-- that they're there to help in these situations," Martin said.  

The Concerned Black Clergy also saw the original story on FOX 5, and the organization's president placed a call to the police chief.  Rev. Frank Brown says he can't understand why the officer wasn't sent home until the investigation is completed.  

Sources previously told FOX 5 there was physical evidence of the crime found in the officer's patrol car, but the Maj. Tolleson tells FOX 5 that is not the case.  As for why the officer wasn't sent home, he says it's customary to put that officer on a desk job that does not involve contact with the public.  They'll treat him that way until the outcome of the full investigation.

Sources tell FOX 5 that police do have evidence of the crime beyond the student's word, but they're not at liberty to publicly discuss that evidence yet.