Cops in Alleged Sexual Assault Guilty of "Bad Judgment"

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 13, 2011 1:00PM

The case against Chicago police officers Juan Vasquez and Paul Clavijo is going to be centered on the word "no" and that the Rogers Park woman accusing them of sexual assault said it. That was reinforced yesterday when Clavijo and Vasquez both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Attorneys for the two said that the sex was consensual and that Vasquez and Clavijo were only guilty of "bad judgment." (At the very least.) Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said that with a blood alcohol level of .38, the victim was in no condition to give knowing consent.

Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil set bail at $500,000 each, saying that "trust that was placed on them as a result of their positions." As of last night, Vasquez had posted bond while Clavijo was still stewing in jail. More details of the March 30 incident emerged yesterday. According to the indictment, Clavijo had sex in the squad car with the victim while Vasquez went to a liquor store to buy booze. When they reached the victim's apartment, they played strip poker and both officers sexually assaulted her, according to prosecutors. A neighbor who is a witness in the case said she heard the victim pounding on the walls and screaming for help. Parts of Vasquez's uniform were recovered in her apartment.

Clavijo is also suspected of a March 10 sexual assault of a woman he and Vasquez picked up at a bus stop. He's alleged to have forced himself upon this woman while Vasquez excused himself to go to the bathroom. The woman didn't report the incident at the time because she lives in the police district Vasquez and Clavijo are assigned to and feared intimidation.