news-record.com

GREENSBORO - At a special City Council meeting this afternoon, the council voted unanimously to release more details of an assault investigation that caused the suspension of three police officers on Dec. 18.

After the vote, the council immediately adjourned, and Assistant Police Chief Gary Hastings read a statement about the incident.

According to Hastings, an off-duty female police officer reported being sexually assaulted between 11 p.m. Dec. 14 and 1 a.m. Dec. 15.

The off-duty officer told the Internal Affairs Section that she and a friend were leaving the area of Four Seasons Town Centre when they encountered the three on-duty officers who offered to give them a ride home, Hastings said.

The woman told investigators she was sexually assaulted while in the vehicle, Hastings said.

It is the police department's policy not to release the names of anyone who reports being sexually assaulted.

Sgt. A.S. Wallace, 43; Officer J.O. LeGrand, 37; and Officer C.S. Stevens, 42 were suspended on Dec. 18 in connection with this investigation.

Hastings said the criminal investigation is underway and an administrative investigation will begin upon its completion.

The police department initially refused to release the time, date, location, and reported violation of the law, claiming that because the suspects are city employees, the information was protected by personnel laws.

The City Council invoked its authority to release confidential personnel information if its release is in the best interest of the public.

But the News & Record filed a lawsuit earlier today to get the city and police department to release the information. The suit argues that state public records law makes some details of all criminal investigations public.

Read more in tomorrow's News & Record.