2 more women say police officer assaulted them

By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com
Jan. 08, 2010

Two more women have accused police officer Marcus Jackson of sexually assaulting them, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Friday.

The latest allegations increase to five the number of women who say Jackson, who was fired last week and is now in jail, attacked them while he was on duty.

And police said Friday afternoon that they are investigating even more accusations against the police officer.

Jackson, who was hired in 2008, worked in the Eastway Division, which stretches from the Belmont community not far from uptown to near Eastland Mall. Police have not said where all of the alleged attacks took place, but the allegation made public today happened on Matheson Avenue, and another woman who said she was assaulted by Jackson told The Observer the attack happened near 10th Street and Seigle Avenue, in the Belmont neighborhood.

Police say the newest accusation involves two women who were riding together.

They say Jackson stopped them for speeding about 11 p.m. Dec. 28 on Matheson Avenue. During that stop, police say, Jackson asked the women to get out of the car, and he asked for permission to search them.

The women told police they gave Jackson permission to do so, but the search was improperly conducted, police say.

"As a result of an improper search, CMPD is recommending to the District Attorney's Office that additional charges of sexual battery be filed against Jackson," police spokesman Rob Tufano said Friday afternoon.

Tufano said police are looking into still more allegations of improper behavior by Jackson.

He said investigators are now looking into the fired officer's traffic stops and calls for service, to see if "there is other related information to investigate."

Jackson, 25, was arrested Dec. 30 and charged with pulling over two young women in separate incidents. He was charged with three counts of sexual battery, second-degree sex offense, extortion, kidnapping, indecent exposure, and two counts of felonious restraint.

At the time, Chief Rodney Monroe said "it would be naive" to believe the officer hadn't assaulted other women.

The first incident was the Dec. 18 case, involving a 17-year-old girl. The woman told police that Jackson -- wearing his uniform and driving his marked patrol car -- pulled her over, forced her into his car, drove to another location, and committed sex acts.

Family members called police, and investigators began looking into the case.

While that was taking place, Monroe said, a 21-year-old woman reported she had been assaulted by Jackson under similar circumstances.

Details of those two alleged attacks were released by police Dec. 30.

Then on Tuesday, police said a third woman told investigators that Jackson stopped her Nov. 2 and fondled her during an unlawful search, according to police. Monroe said the woman told investigators that Jackson stopped her again Dec. 29 and again fondled her.

During the Dec. 29 incident, the woman told police, a male companion tried to intervene by challenging the traffic stop, and then tried to call 911. But Jackson interrupted the emergency call, Monroe said, and unlawfully arrested the man for obstructing and delaying a police officer. Those charges have since been dropped, and the man has been released from jail.

Have more information?

Police ask that anyone in the public with information about the alleged attacks by Jackson -- or any other possible incidents of improper behavior -- contact Detective Mike Melendez, 704-353-0560, or Sgt. Darrell Price, 704-336-4188.

Observer staff writers Gary L. Wright and Ely Portillo contributed.

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