An Orange County woman filed a federal lawsuit Monday against an Anaheim Police Department officer, alleging he raped her after spotting her at an In-N-Out Burger and obtaining her name by swiping her license plate number.
The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, sued former Officer Carlos Romero, the city of Anaheim and 10 members of the police department, alleging sexual assault and civil rights violations, among other claims.
Romero’s alleged actions “were committed maliciously, oppressively, and/or with reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s constitutional rights,” the lawsuit states.
Romero was placed on paid administrative leave in 2023 after the allegations were brought to the attention of the police department, pending criminal and administrative investigations, Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster said in a statement Tuesday.
“We hold our police officers to the highest standards, and our police department thoroughly investigates all instances of employee misconduct,” he said. “Beyond that, we must abide by state law restrictions that prevent us from commenting further on ongoing personnel investigations.”
According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for Central California, the woman was in the drive-thru of an In-N-Out on May 19, 2023, near Orange Avenue and Brookhurst Street, when she noticed Romero smiling at her.
The next day, he received a Facebook request from Romero asking if he was the In-N-Out officer, according to the lawsuit. Romero said he was and explained that he got his information by running his license plate. He then asked for and got the woman's phone number.
Romero began texting the woman, according to the lawsuit, even though she had made it clear to him that she was not interested in a romantic relationship. Over the next few months, Romero would text her and visit her home while on duty. The two would kiss, but the woman refused to have sex when Romero asked her to, according to the lawsuit.
On Sept. 25, Romero asked her if he could come to her house, but the woman told him she was having a “bad day” and that he shouldn’t go if he wanted to have sex. While on duty, Romero allegedly drove to her house in his patrol vehicle while wearing his uniform.
According to the lawsuit, Romero began kissing the woman and performing oral sex on her, which she consented to, but then forcibly penetrated her with his fingers and penis after she repeatedly told him “no” and said his name to try to get him to stop. Romero also forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the lawsuit.
The woman said in the lawsuit that she made it clear before and after Romero allegedly sexually assaulted her that she had not given consent. His gun was on the couch in plain view of the woman as he assaulted her, according to the lawsuit.
The woman said she was “terrified and feared for her life” and just wanted Romero to leave.
The suit alleges that the woman suffered physical, emotional and mental injuries and has endured medical and psychological expenses and lost wages. She is seeking damages in excess of $7 million.
