Officer accused of raping woman while taking her to jail

RIVERDALE,Ga. - A now former Riverdale Police officer is behind bars. Investigators said 36-year-old James Robinson Junior is charged with raping a female inmate while taking her to the Clayton County Jail.

“The charges that were filed were one count of rape as well one count of sexual assault while in custody,” said Nelly Miles with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

According to a Riverdale Police report, the woman was turned over to Officer J. Robinson for transport from the Riverdale Police Department to the Clayton County Jail on August 6, after being arrested for falsely reporting a crime.  Investigators said it was during that transport on Tara Blvd. that they alleged rape took place.

“He appeared to have potential,” said Riverdale Police Chief Todd Spivey. “He came to us seeking employment.”

Chief Spivey said Robinson was only with the department for about five months and as soon as the woman came to the police station to make the complaint, they took the allegations seriously and contacted the GBI who began their investigation.

“Once they reached the point of obtaining the arrest warrants and he was taken physically into custody he was terminated,” said Chief Spivey.

Chief Spivey said its disappointing when as a department they try to build relationships with the community and then something like this sets them back.

“When you have a specific incident like this with Officer Robinson, it has an impact on those relationships, that are possibly the perception of our profession because one person made a very bad decision,” said Chief Spivey.

Investigators said Officer Robsinson was arrested Tuesday. The GBI said the investigation is ongoing.