CA - LAPD Officer William Rodriguez, 33, arrested for 2 rapes, Los Angeles, 2015 and 2018

[PastTense]

"An LAPD officer has been charged with rape following a sexual assault investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

Officer William Rodriguez, 33, a 10-year LAPD veteran most recently assigned to the Valley Traffic Division, was taken into custody Tuesday and relieved of his police powers. The L.A. County district attorney’s office on Wednesday charged Rodriguez with two counts of forcible rape in a case with a special allegation of multiple victims.

The charges stem from a Nov. 1 report of a sexual assault involving an acquaintance at Rodriguez’s home. The investigation led to the discovery of a second sexual assault in August 2015, in which officials say Rodriguez also was involved. Prosecutors say that attack occurred under similar conditions. Both incidents occurred while Rodriguez was off-duty, police say .

Rodriguez was identified through a combined DNA index system, or a “cold hit” DNA match, authorities said."
LAPD officer charged with rape after 'cold' DNA match, prosecutors say

So the last rape was more than 8 months ago and it took them that long to enter the DNA into the system and act on the results? And he continued to be a police officer this whole time?

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

I’m wondering about the rights a Victim or the Family of a Victim would have as far as obtaining and holding a personal copy of the DNA found at the crime scene for future use.
The Victim or the Family of the Victim could send the Crime Scene DNA to a private DNA matching service.

 

[dotr]

Los Angeles police officer charged with multiple rapes after DNA links him to cold case
"A ten-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department is facing life in prison after the department's investigation into a rape accusation linked him to another unsolved sexual assault from 2015.

William Rodriguez, 33, was arrested and charged with two counts of forcible rape, with a special allegation of multiple victims Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a press release. Rodriguez is accused of sexually assaulting a female acquaintance at his home last November."
"When one of our own breaks the trust of the people we are sworn to protect and to serve, it tarnishes the badge we all wear proudly on our chests," Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police Michel Moore said in a statement. "This arrest also reflects our commitment to pursue every lead no matter where the investigation takes us."

Police said when they entered Rodriguez's DNA into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System they got a "cold hit" on a sexual assault that occurred in August 2015. That assault involved another woman who was raped "under similar circumstances," the DA's office said."

 

[PayrollNerd]

So.....he was absent the day they taught DNA class or what? Let’s hope he the only cop who can’t make the connection between crime and DNA. Good grief.

 

[PayrollNerd]

There’s a duplicate thread for this case. I don’t know how to link it but here’s the title.

Los Angeles police officer charged with multiple rapes after DNA links him to cold case
Discussion in 'Crimes in the News' started by dotr, Friday at 9:38 AM.