Name: A New Orleans police officer groomed and raped a 14-year-old girl he was assigned to take to a rape-kit exam, a lawsuit alleges
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A New Orleans police officer groomed and raped a 14-year-old girl he was assigned to take to a rape-kit exam, a lawsuit alleges

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Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowSign up for our weekday newsletter, packed with original analysis, news, and trends — delivered right to your inbox.Something is loading.The mother of a 14-year-old girl has sued the city of New Orleans and a former police officer, alleging the officer groomed and raped the girl after he was assigned to take her to a children's hospital for a rape-kit exam last year.The lawsuit, filed in federal court this week, said the police department dispatched Officer Rodney Vicknair to transport the girl to the hospital on Memorial Day weekend last year. But while Vicknair and the girl sat in the waiting area, he showed the girl pictures on his phone of whom he said was his 16-year-old daughter posing in bikinis and lingerie, the lawsuit alleged.The photos were just the beginning of a series of increasingly inappropriate encounters that would devolve into sexual assault and rape, the lawsuit alleged.Vicknair, who portrayed himself as a "mentor," soon began phoning and texting the girl nearly every day for four months, often inviting himself into her home or asking her to come out to his police vehicle, the suit said.The lawsuit alleged that Vicknair also became violent during these encounters. It accused him of striking the girl with a police baton, forcefully twisting her arm, and groping her buttocks while hugging her. In one incident, the lawsuit alleged Vicknair "invited himself over" while the girl was sleeping, woke her up by shining a flashlight in her face, and then groped her breasts.The suit alleged that on two occasions, Vicknair "attacked and raped [the girl] by inserting his fingers into her vagina while in his police vehicle."Vicknair was and charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile, and malfeasance. But this week's lawsuit alleged the police department knew Vicknair had a history of misconduct allegations and that he was not a member of the special-victims or child-abuse units, and should never have been dispatched to assist a 14-year-old rape victim.The New Orleans Police Department told Insider in a statement that Vicknair was suspended in September after his arrest. The police department then fired him on January 13 and contacted the FBI to investigate whether there were civil-rights violations."As I stated from the moment this was brought to my attention, this type of alleged behavior will not be condoned or tolerated," Shaun Ferguson, the superintendent of the police department, said in a statement. "These alleged actions are clear violations of the Department's policies and contrary to everything that we require and expect of our police officers."Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.Subscribe to push notificationsAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.Keep readingIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowSign up for our weekday newsletter, packed with original analysis, news, and trends — delivered right to your inbox.Something is loading.The mother of a 14-year-old girl has sued the city of New Orleans and a former police officer, alleging the officer groomed and raped the girl after he was assigned to take her to a children's hospital for a rape-kit exam last year.The lawsuit, filed in...

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A New Orleans police officer groomed and raped a 14-year-old girl he was assigned to take to a rape-kit exam, a lawsuit alleges

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