A police officer in Maryland is in jail facing rape and assault charges. Baltimore County Police Officer Anthony Michael Westerman, 25, was charged with two counts of second degree rape and three counts of second degree assault on December 7.
This case was initiated when Baltimore County Police received information concerning the allegations. The Special Victims Unit conducted their investigation and ultimately pursued charges against Westerman.
Detectives began investigating Westerman on October 16, 2019 after being notified of at least three women who were allegedly sexually assaulted, WBAL TV reports.
On Oct. 4, 2017, Westerman was buying shots for a crowd at a bar in White Marsh, according to charging documents. A 22-year-old woman who came forward said she was so drunk that she left the brew pub and passed out in her car.
She insisted she wanted to stay there until she was sober enough to drive. She said she remembered a knock at the window and Westerman and her female friend were standing outside. Westerman said he would book the two women an Uber back to the second woman’s home.
But instead Westerman hailed a ride back to his home where he allegedly raped one of the women, according to court records. The 22-year-old woman told her friend about the incident and the two immediately left.
On June 8, 2019 police say a 20-year-old woman, who considered Westerman to be like a brother, was drinking at his home in Essex. The woman told police Westerman woke her up while she was sleeping in his guest bedroom and then forced her to have sex with him, charging documents allege. The woman did not immediately report the incident out of fear of Westerman being a police officer, the documents said.
Court documents say two weeks later, another 22-year-old woman was at a birthday party in Middle River with Westerman. Police said when the two were alone Westerman took the woman to a secluded area where she thought he was going to share his plans to propose to his girlfriend.
But instead, Westerman grabbed and tried to kiss the woman, charging documents allege. Documents stated this happened twice before the woman left with a relative whom she’d told about the incident.
Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said the following in a statement:
“The allegations made in this case are reprehensible and are not representative of the values and ethics of the Baltimore County Police Department. As a result of a thorough investigation by the Baltimore County Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau, the officer has been arrested and has been suspended without pay.”
Police say Westerman joined the Baltimore County Police Department in 2015.
Westerman is being held at a local jail without bail, police said.
Court records do not identify any attorney currently representing Westerman.
