Salt Lake City police officer suspected of sexual assault
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A Salt Lake City police officer has been placed on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman he met on a dating app.
State of play: Zander Nunley, 26, was arrested Dec. 11 and booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault, object rape, forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse.
- Nunley had not been charged as of Friday morning. Court records did not identify his attorney.
- The woman reported the alleged sexual assault to a forensic nurse on Dec. 9, who performed a rape kit at a Utah County hospital, per court documents.
The woman alleged Nunley invited her over to his American Fork home after weeks of messaging through Hinge to watch a "religious Christmas devotional," per the police affidavit.
- Upon arriving, the woman said Nunley told her that he put away his firearms. In a previous exchange, she told him guns made her uncomfortable.
- During the alleged assault, the woman claimed he choked her and afterward told her, "Look, you had a gun right next to you," during the encounter.
Between the lines: A judge denied bail for Nunley after finding "substantial evidence to support the charge" and "clear and convincing evidence" that he may harm someone else or flee.
What they're saying: Brent Weisberg, communications director for the Salt Lake City Police Department, said the agency received information about the investigation Dec. 11 and placed Nunley on leave.
- "The allegations in this case are serious and conflict with our core values," Weisberg said in a statement.
The big picture: U.S. police officers were charged with rape 405 times and forcible fondling 636 times between 2005-2013, per data compiled by Bowling Green State University, CNN reported.
- Experts say sex assault by police officers is likely underreported.