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Miami-Dade Police Officer Accused of Raping Woman He Pulled Over

The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) - A Miami-Dade County police officer was accused of raping a woman he pulled over and lured to a warehouse.

Patrol Officer Steven Leflore, 41, was charged with three counts of armed sexual battery by a law enforcement officer, two counts of simple battery and unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior. He has been suspended without pay for the alleged assault Thursday.

Investigators matched Leflore’s DNA with a semen sample found on a shirt in the woman’s truck, Miami-Dade sexual crimes Detective Edelmira Villanueva said in an arrest affidavit. The woman had told police Leflore used the shirt to wipe himself after raping her, Villanueva wrote.

Leflore was assigned a lawyer at the Miami-Dade public defender’s office, where a phone was busy early Tuesday. Leflore was being held without bond pending an Oct. 29 court hearing.

The 42-year-old accuser’s name was not disclosed. The affidavit says she did not have her driver’s license when Leflore pulled her over. He allegedly said he could write her a ticket, but instead told her to meet him at the warehouse, the report said.

Leflore faced 10 disciplinary actions since August 2001. His bosses gave him two five-day suspensions, one in June 2002 for insubordination and another in September 2003 for writing false reports.

Police spokeswoman Nelda Fonticiella said the false reports allegation came after Leflore’s supervisor found a discrepancy between the time Leflore spent on calls and what he reported.

Leflore’s file also shows 21 commendations since January 2001.