Former Raleigh Police Officer Accused of Forcing Woman Into S*x After DWI Stop, Warrants Reveal
RALEIGH, N.C. — A former Raleigh Police Department officer has been arrested and charged after allegedly forcing a woman into s*xual acts while on duty, according to warrants obtained by ABC11 News.
Officer Accused of Exploiting Woman After DWI Stop
Investigators say 28-year-old Tremale Cogdale stopped a woman on September 12 for a suspected DWI after she struck a parked vehicle. Instead of citing or arresting her, Cogdale allegedly took the woman to his apartment, where he engaged in s*xual activity with her.
Following the woman’s report, Cogdale was terminated from the Raleigh Police Department on Friday and faces multiple s*x crime charges that could carry up to 88 months in prison if convicted.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is leading the case, while Raleigh Police Internal Affairs conducts a parallel investigation.
District Attorney and Victim’s Attorney Respond
Wake County District Attorney Lorin Freeman confirmed her office is reviewing other arrests and cases involving Cogdale to determine if additional victims may exist.
The victim’s attorney, Stacy Miller, praised her courage for coming forward despite the trauma she experienced.
“It has been very devastating for her. She’s been very traumatized,” Miller said. “But we commend her — she’s a strong young woman, and we believe she stopped a s*xual predator.”
Miller added that his client’s family and support network played a critical role in helping her report the assault.
Possibility of More Victims Under Review
While the SBI says no other victims have been confirmed, Miller noted that his firm has been contacted by other individuals who claim to have had similar encounters with Cogdale.
“We’ve been contacted by others and are investigating those claims,” Miller said. “This young woman was taken advantage of by someone with a badge — and she’s standing up to protect others who could be victims as well.”
Raleigh Police Chief Vows Accountability
During a press conference, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce expressed outrage over the allegations, emphasizing that the department will cooperate fully with the investigation and hold any employee accountable for misconduct.
“This type of behavior will never be tolerated within our department,” Boyce said. “We stand with the victim and support a full investigation.”
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Cogdale or have information about the case is urged to contact the State Bureau of Investigation or the Raleigh Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division.
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Source: abc11.com
