Today a mother and her three daughters came to 7NEWS to complain that a policeman has impregnated their 14 year old sister and, instead of charging the officer responsible, the Police Department is covering up. The child is now 15 years old and three months into her pregnancy and the family is demanding that something be done. Frustrated by the Police Department's inaction they came to 7NEWS today to tell their story.
It started on January 17th when police took the girl, then still 14, and her mother to make a statement. According to her sister, who we asked to appear off camera to protect her younger sibling's identity, at that time, it seemed the police was on the family's side but that quickly changed. We warn you that some of what you are about to hear might not be suitable for young children.
Sister of Alleged Victim,
"So the police went to my mother's house and they told my little sister not to be afraid to them because she did no wrong, the police who had sex with her did all the wrong.
The other day now they come and they told my mom they will take my little sister to Universal to find out if my sister was pregnant for true. They took her now, confirmed she is pregnant, and after they told my mother to come in two weeks and they'll see what they can do. After the two weeks up, when my mom went there the lady from Human Rights told her that, 'to be honest with you, nobody wants to take the case it is a high police involved.'
So our solution is to come to Channel 7 because how the Commissioner will put Inspector Mariano to deal with this case now. if the police want we in the public to work with them, if they don't work with us how can we work with them."
Jules Vasquez,
But you are stating firmly that it is for one of three police officers who were having sexual relations with her?
Sister of Alleged Victim,
"Definitely because the next two she wasn't in any relationship with those kind of way but one police officer she was in a long term relationship, I would say maybe like a year, off and on."
Jules Vasquez,
So what would you all like to happen?
Sister of Alleged Victim,
"I want the police to the do their job because people who are watching the news knows for a fact that any man out there who has sex with minors, the first thing the police does is arrest. Why when it has to do with one of their officer, they don't want to do anything about it."
Jules Vasquez,
A large portion of your family has come here, how come you all didn't know all of this was happening?
Sister of Alleged Victim,
"To be honest with you Jules, we were at home but you know teenagers when they reach a certain age they tend to want different things and my mother could be home and she could tell my mother she went to do homework and my mom would believe her child, not knowing what she is doing out there. But at the same time the police should have known better because as you look at that little girl, you see a child in her face. If you would read her report noh, this specific officer partly raped her because if you rip a child clothes and you have sex without her wishes, or her consent then, because if this child is telling you no and when you finished having sex you tell her she could get the 'f out' of the hotel room now and go about her business because she is a slut, that noh work so."
Today, Deputy Commissioner of Police Maureen Leslie, who had not heard of the case before, told us she takes it very seriously. She said that the position of the investigators is that the young girl may be confused because she has given conflicting statements implicating, Leslie says, as many as 5 officers. Because of this, Leslie says the police have to investigate thoroughly and carefully.
