What to Know
- Suffolk Police Officer Christopher McCoy, 38, was arrested Thursday morning on a civil rights violation
- He's accused of forcing a woman he arrested to perform oral sex on him while she was being processed at the police station
- The FBI is asking anyone else who may have been a victim to contact them
A Long Island cop has been arrested on federal charges after he allegedly forced a woman he arrested to perform a sex act on him at the police station, prosecutors say.
Christopher McCoy, 38, was arrested Thursday morning and released on $500,000 bond after appearing in federal court in Central Islip Thursday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty to violating the alleged victim's civil rights by depriving an arrestee of the right to bodily integrity.
Federal prosecutors allege that on March 16, McCoy, while on duty, arrested a woman who had several outstanding warrants for unresolved vehicle and traffic offenses. She was taken to the First Precinct stationhouse in Wyandanch.
During the arrest processing, while McCoy and the woman were alone in the juvenile room, he forced her to perform oral sex, according to prosecutors.
As soon as she was released, the woman reported the incident. The Suffolk Police Department suspended McCoy without pay in April.
"This is disgusting. This is rape," Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini said Thursday, adding the department will be seeking to terminate McCoy. He says the county will be adding cameras to all interview rooms in the wake of the allegations.
"This type of behavior is outrageous," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. in a statement. "It won't be tolerated within our criminal justice system, and those who subject others to such cruel conduct will be swiftly removed from serving in any official capacity."
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The victim's attorney told News 4 over the phone the woman is not speaking publicly but applauds the investigation by FBI and prosecutors. She has filed a lawsuit, which is pending and in the discovery phase, her attorney said.
McCoy said nothing as he walked out of court Thursday, but an attorney for the officer told reporters, "It would be inappropriate for us to comment now regarding the reliability of this complaint, or the $40 million lawsuit that has been filed so quickly. However, we will have much to say about this in court as the case unfolds."
Another attorney said McCoy has "proudly" served as a police officer both in New York City and on Long Island for the past 12 years without incident.
"This is only a complaint, and as this case progresses, more will be revealed," he said.
No one answered the door at McCoy's home in Sayville, but stunned neighbors told News 4 they found the allegations against the married father of three hard to believe.
As part of his release, McCoy can't leave New York or carry a firearm. He also had to give up his passport.
Authorities are asking anyone else who may have been a victim of McCoy to call the FBI at 212-384-2166.
The Suffolk Police Department wasn't immediately commenting on the officer's arrest Thursday.