Can I still report the crime?

[fyrfyter22]

Hi,
I visted a friend in a different state and while I was there I was sexually assaulted. I never reported it to the police for a few reasons. The officers on scene told me not to ( their reasoning was it would probably be classified as a misdemeanor and the chances of ever finding the assailant would be slim to none), and I couldn't go to the police station becuase I had to catch my flight back home. The incident took place almost 8 months ago. I have a possible suspect, and he has a history of rape, so now I want to report my incident. Is it possible, after 8 months, for me to still report it? It would be very difficult for me to fly back down there again, so would this be possible to report over the phone? and would I be able to obtain a copy of the report? Also, I don't want to release the name of the suspect on the report or to the police becuase I am not sure hes actually the guy who did it. It happened on a dark street, so I didn't get a good look. My friend however did so I want to check with her first and see if she thinks it's him. He did tell me his first name, which is the same as this possible suspect, so could I be in troube if I give the police the suspects name and it turns out to be false?
Thanks,
Bailey

[MetPC]

If you give the Police a suspects name it's up to them to investigate it and discover what involvement that person had in your allegation.

You said you spoke to Police at the time and they told you not to report it? I'm guessing that you made an allegation to them? Around here that would've been recorded as a crime regardless of whether the victim wanted anything done about it.

I'm sure some of the other guys will be able to help you out with the best route for properly reporting this incident.

[fyrfyter22]

Just to clarify about your post MetPC, the officers did not ask me any information other then my age. They were not called to the scene (I did call 911 from my cell but never had the chance to talk), I happened to run into the officers, who were on duty, and they never wrote down any information about any of it, I assumed this was becuase I approached them instead of them actually being called out?
Thanks for the post.

[phantasm]

In NY, you can file a report 8 months later, but among other things, they're going to question why it took you 8 months to report the crime, and they will question your credibility. I'm not saying this to discourage you by any means. If you were actually sexually assaulted, pursue the police report to the best of your ability, and try to remember whatever you can about the incident. I'm just trying to give you a heads up on what to expect.

[fyrfyter22]

Alright I thought they might question my credibility, I did however write down every thing that happened. I did talk to a detective with both the county sheriff dept. and the City PD within a week or two if the incident because I sent in a letter, and was told they would keep it on file for while. I'm hoping if they have any doubts they will contact the detective so they see I made some effort early on to contact the police about it, but I'm not sure they still have it on file. Thanks for the head sup though, I wasn't sure what to expect..

[MetPC]

I'm not understanding how you've been in contact with Detectives/Officers about this matter but it hasn't been formally reported

[Terminator]

Hi,
I visted a friend in a different state and while I was there I was sexually assaulted. I never reported it to the police for a few reasons:

#1) The officers on scene told me not to (their reasoning was it would probably be classified as a misdemeanor and the chances of ever finding the assailant would be slim to none)
#2) I couldn't go to the police station becuase I had to catch my flight back home.

The incident took place almost 8 months ago. I have a possible suspect, and he has a history of rape, so now I want to report my incident.

Is it possible, after 8 months, for me to still report it?

It would be very difficult for me to fly back down there again, so would this be possible to report over the phone? and would I be able to obtain a copy of the report?

Also, I don't want to release the name of the suspect on the report or to the police becuase I am not sure hes actually the guy who did it. It happened on a dark street, so I didn't get a good look.

So you were raped, but didn't report it because the officers told you not to, and advised you it would only be a misdemeanor anyway, and they probably wouldn't catch the guy...oh, and you judt HAD to catch your flight back.

It is still possible for you to report it

You can NOT report this over the telephone without going there.

So you're not willing to report the suspect's name to the police because you aren't sure if he did it, and you didn't get a good look at him.

Well, let me be the first one to have the guts to tell you, that I think, in my professional opinion you are FULL OF SH*T!!!!!!

Lying about being raped is absolutely despicable.

[Ken K]

So you were raped, but didn't report it because the officers told you not to, and advised you it would only be a misdemeanor anyway, and they probably wouldn't catch the guy...oh, and you judt HAD to catch your flight back.

It is still possible for you to report it

You can NOT report this over the telephone without going there.

So you're not willing to report the suspect's name to the police because you aren't sure if he did it, and you didn't get a good look at him.

Well, let me be the first one to have the guts to tell you, that I think, in my professional opinion you are FULL OF SH*T!!!!!!

Lying about being raped is absolutely despicable.

See above for a good answer. Unbelievable.

[BrickCop]

See above for a good answer. Unbelievable.

Sadly I agree, your story defies logic.

[Curt581]

A misdemeanor sexual assault? Sounds like she was groped.

The cops you talked to were right. There's very little chance they'll be able to pin it anybody, even if you supply the name of a possible suspect. He'll deny it, and you don't know for sure. Where do you want to go with this?

For my part, I'm also doubting your story. What's the motivation for wanting to report it eight months later?

[fatboyjim154]

What's the motivation for wanting to report it eight months later?

To F*** someones life up? :rolleyes:

[Bearcat06]

To F*** someones life up? :rolleyes:

That or knocked up and trying to figure out how to explain it...... :rolleyes:

99.9% of Police Depts. DO NOT take police reports over the phone for stuff like this.......so you will have to fly back there to report it.

[KatieMH21]

So you were raped, but didn't report it because the officers told you not to, and advised you it would only be a misdemeanor anyway, and they probably wouldn't catch the guy...oh, and you judt HAD to catch your flight back.

It is still possible for you to report it

You can NOT report this over the telephone without going there.

So you're not willing to report the suspect's name to the police because you aren't sure if he did it, and you didn't get a good look at him.

Well, let me be the first one to have the guts to tell you, that I think, in my professional opinion you are FULL OF SH*T!!!!!!

Lying about being raped is absolutely despicable.

See, I was going to avoid this whole thread after reading your request. But since someone called you out on it. I want to add my .02 cents. Judging from your other posts you say you're a firefighter and want to be an LEO and have remarkable amounts of defensive tactics and other personal training. Let me reiterate what Term said, "you're full of sh*t." First of all, if you do have this training that you speak of, maybe you should have used it if you felt you were in danger and being taken advantage of. Second, if you are a firefighter, you would know how to stand up for yourself. Don't be a pathetic weak female and allow someone to do something to you (if your story is true) and then not report it or allow the officers to tell you "oh well, it's trivial, don't waste your time." Unless it truly was trivial you wouldn't have put up with that. Now, on a personal note, I request that you not go into law enforcement unless you seriously change your attitude. I do not want your weak, pathetic, victimization disordered *** backing me or my brothers up. Grow a freakin' backbone or get out of the Public Service field because you're not helping anyone by being a part of it. All that you can do is put many people in danger.

[mobrien316]

This one set off my meter as well.

Either you are not telling us what actually happened, or nothing happened and you are making the whole thing up.

You claim that you approached some police officers, told them you'd been raped, and they suggested that you shouldn't report it? I can't even picture the laziest cop I know doing something like that - if for no other reason than to keep his *** out of trouble he would have to take a report.

[fyrfyter22]

I was in contact with the PD detective becuase I had sent in a letter about a problem that I had with one of the officers. His own partner told me that he was intoxicated. It turned out to be a deputy, so I had to talk to the a detective at the sheriff dept. as well. My motivation for wanting to report it now is becuase I found out the possible suspect has a history of rape, I didn't know this before. I did the defense training with the sheriff dept. AFTER this incident, that was part of my reasoning for doing the training. And if you really read my other post, it says I am planning on, IN THE FUTURE, taking other defense training. Being in LE you should know that fighting back is not always the best thing for every situation. I was not about to fight someone until I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get a gun to my head or a knife to my throat. I do not get to carry a gun, you do. Just becuase I am a firefighter, does not mean that I know how to fight well, you are cops, you do. I would also like someone to show me where I ever said it was rape. I would hope that you would realize that sexual assault covers more then just rape...