Baltimore police officer charged in Edgewood rape after driving woman home on duty
EDGEWOOD, Md. —
Harford County Sheriff’s Office said DNA evidence links a Baltimore City police officer to an Edgewood rape while he was on duty.
Investigators said Daniel Oxendine responded to an unrelated call for service on June 2, when the victim told the on-duty officer that she needed transportation home.
A supervisor cleared Oxendine to drive the woman home, where he sexually assaulted her.
The victim called authorities, and she was taken to a hospital for an exam. Harford County authorities said forensic and DNA evidence collected identified Oxendine as the suspect.
The officer is charged on multiple counts, including first and second-degree rape, two counts of a law enforcement officer engaging in a sexual act with a victim or witness of an investigation; burglary with intent to commit rape; and misconduct in office.
“What we discovered was a Baltimore City Police officer had driven this woman from Baltimore City up (to Harford County) after she was involved in some sort of domestic incident down (in the city). (He drove her) in a patrol car, while he was on duty, drove her up here to a residence where the sexual assault and the rape occurred,” said Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler. “She did not feel comfortable staying in the city and asked for a ride up here to Harford County to her home. The officer involved, the officer charged, apparently got permission from his supervisor and brought her up here in a police vehicle — which we have on video at the residence.”
Authorities said detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Oxendine on Thursday.
He remains held at the Harford County Detention Center, pending his bond hearing set to happen on Friday.
The Baltimore Police Department said Oxendine has been with the department since 2017, in a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News.
BPD “is aware of the arrest of Officer Daniel Oxendine in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. His police powers were previously suspended, and he is now suspended without pay.”
BPD said it is cooperating with Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation.
Harford County authorities said they believe Oxendine may have committed similar offenses and that detectives are reviewing evidence, examining prior reports and coordinating with partner agencies to determine whether other crimes may be connected.
“The audacity, the boldness of this crime, has us concerned (there could be more),” said Gahler. “I say to myself this isn’t the first time this person has done that, so I think in this case it’s probably likely that maybe there are other victims.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Harford County Sheriff’s Detective Golden at 410-836-5430.