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Metro Atlanta officers facing criminal charges
Two metro Atlanta officers have been relieved of duty after they were arrested in two separate investigations - one of which stretches all the way to Utah.
ATLANTA - A former Atlanta police officer is facing rape and false imprisonment charges after a woman came forward to accuse him of assaulting her during a massage appointment earlier this summer.
What we know:
Police say Muhammad Muhammad, who had been with the department since 2020, was arrested Thursday at police headquarters. He was immediately fired after a disciplinary hearing and taken to the Fulton County Jail.
The investigation began June 8 when a woman walked into Atlanta police headquarters and reported that she had been sexually assaulted two days earlier. She told officers she had gone to a home on Sparks Street Southwest to provide massage services to Muhammad, who was off duty at the time.
Muhammad Muhammad (Fulton County Sheriff's Office)
According to investigators, the woman said the encounter turned violent when Muhammad touched her inappropriately, ignored her protests and sexually assaulted her. She also told police he pulled out a gun, threatened her, and took back the money he had paid.
Detectives with the Special Victims Unit and the department’s Office of Professional Standards investigated the allegations for more than two months before arresting Muhammad.
What they're saying:
Chief Darin Schierbaum has said the department holds its own officers to the same standards as everyone else, but declined an interview or further comment.
What we don't know:
It is not clear if Muhammad has retained legal counsel or when his next court date will be.
What's next:
The case remains under investigation.
The Source: The Atlanta Police Department provided the details for this article. A mug shot was provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.