Prince George's Co. officer allegedly raped woman who was an undocumented immigrant, documents say

PALMER PARK, Md. - Newly-released court documents are detailing the charges against a Prince George's County police officer accused of raping an undocumented immigrant during a traffic stop.

Ryan Macklin, a 6-year veteran of the Prince George's County Police Department, is facing charges of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, second-degree assault, fourth-degree sex contact and perverted practice.

The Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office released Macklin's mugshot on Tuesday.

Police say Macklin conducted the traffic stop on University Boulevard in Langley Park at around 1 a.m. this past Thursday. Macklin is accused of forcing the woman to perform a sexual act in her car in a nearby parking lot while he was on-duty and in uniform driving a marked police cruiser. It’s unclear at this time if the victim was targeted because of her immigration status.

The woman says she was heading to her job working construction when she was pulled over in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.

Surveillance video from inside a furniture store shows the officer activating his emergency lights on his cruiser to conduct the traffic stop, which was released by the police department.

According to charging documents, Officer Macklin tried to touch the victim’s breast during that stop. He then ordered her to drive behind a nearby store and physically forced her to perform oral sex.

The charging documents go on to say Macklin said he wanted to have sex, but when the victim’s friend arrived, who she had called earlier, Macklin returned to his police car and left.

CASA, a Latino and immigration assistance organization in Maryland, says the victim came to them for help after reporting what happened to her to police.

"We believe she was targeted," said Maritza Solano, CASA Director of Education. "This is known as a community mostly made up of immigrants, different status. It's not coincidental that she would be stopped and asked for that type of favor in exchange for her not to be reported or be cited."

Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said on Monday he does not believe the woman's immigration status was a factor.

"There were concerns raised that perhaps this event had something to do with the victim's personal history or her immigration status. I don't believe that to be the case," Stawinski said.

Stawinski said they have received information within recent days that there may be other possible victims as a result of Macklin's conduct.

"We really are asking people, if it has happened before, to please come forward, whether it is to their local authorities or to organizations like ourselves, CASA, to report if this has happened because we know the police officer was on the force for six years," said Solano. "Sadly, we are going to assume there may be other cases similar to this."

FOX 5 has learned Macklin's wife works as an immigration attorney herself, and she is also pregnant with their first child.

Macklin has been suspended without pay and relieved of police powers, according to police officials.

He will be in court Wednesday for a bond review.

Prince George's County police's Special Investigation Response Team is in charge of the investigation and is working closely with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, officials said.

Anyone with information regarding Macklin or the alleged sexual assault is asked to call police at 301-772-4795.