A cop responding to a domestic violence call allegedly sexually assaulted a woman while on the clock, making this the third arrest of a Detroit police officer in the last month.
Detroit police officer Deon Nunlee, 40, has been charged with three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of assault with intent to penetrate and misconduct in office, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors said Nunlee and his partner were called to the scene of an early-morning domestic violence dispute when Nunlee took the woman into an upstairs bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
Nunlee’s partner stayed downstairs with the boyfriend and had no involvement in the sexual assault, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. He said it is typical for parties to be kept at a safe distance in domestic disputes. In this instance, the two officers were in separate parts of the home and the other officer should not have lost sight of their partner.
“While they were alone upstairs, Nunlee indicated he would be coming back to the house later at 7 a.m. When the officer left the house the woman reported the crime to two friends and the next day reported it to the police,” Prosecutors said.
Police say he did not return to the house. The woman reported the assault to police the next day.
Nunlee was placed on administrative duties by the department’s professional standards bureau after the woman reported the alleged assault on October 31. On February 10, after results from the rape kit came back, Nunlee was suspended without pay, Commander Johnny Thomas said.
Nunlee had no comment to the allegations, invoking his right to remain silent during the arrest. He was arraigned and held on $50,000 bond.
When asked about the number of arrests of the Detroit task force in the last month in connection with Nunlee’s charges, Craig said this incident is not a reflection of the department.
“This is an anomaly. This is not what our police officers do,” he said at a press conference. “This officer who decided to engage in criminal misconduct does not represent the 2,500 or so sworn men and women who wear this uniform.”