A woman has claimed she was sexually assaulted inside a Massachusetts State Police barracks located on Martha's Vineyard, according to authorities.
The incident reportedly took place in late August when a trooper, who was stationed on the island for the summer, allegedly permitted a male friend to stay overnight at the barracks in Oak Bluffs. Sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News that at some point during the evening, a woman was observed running from the friend into the street while partially dressed.
The unidentified woman then is said to have informed a passing motorist that she had been sexually assaulted. Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle confirmed that his department responded to a report of a "woman in distress" regarding an alleged sexual assault at the State Police barracks. "The Oak Bluffs Police Department is a separate and independent law enforcement agency from the Massachusetts State Police and, from the beginning, has conducted this investigation independently and in accordance with the department's established policies and procedures," Searle stated. He also noted that the Massachusetts State Police has had no involvement in the Oak Bluffs Police Department's investigation.
Searle also indicated that Oak Bluffs Police have obtained court-authorized search warrants as part of their investigation, including for the barracks itself. The department has been in communication with the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office concerning the ongoing investigation. "The Oak Bluffs Police Department takes allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously," Searle added. "Our investigators have followed the facts and evidence in this case, and we will continue to conduct this investigation thoroughly and independently."
In a separate statement, the Massachusetts State Police acknowledged that the individuals involved in the alleged assault are not affiliated with their department and that the agency is conducting its own internal review. A spokesperson for the State Police said, "We are fully cooperating with the local police's investigation into the matter and remain committed to pursuing justice in every sexual assault case."
