A corrections officer in Ferguson, Missouri, has been accused of raping a pregnant nurse who was stopped for an expired license plate.
The woman, referred to as JW, was arrested in October 2013 after she gave a false name at a traffic stop. She was taken to the City of Ferguson jail, where, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the woman, booking officer Jaris Hayden told her, “You smell good.”
Hayden said, “This will teach you a lesson,” and told JW that her bond would be first $300,000 and then $200,000, according to the suit.
JW, who was several months pregnant at the time, told officers she was experiencing pain and discharges. Paramedics came to check JW’s vitals, but they told her it was Hayden’s decision whether to release her to their custody, according to the suit.
She didn’t see them again. Once they had gone, Hayden allegedly said, “You’re the type of girl that can get me in trouble.” The complaint says JW was crying and asking to go home, and in a state of extreme distress.
According to the complaint, Hayden took her down various hallways to a boiler room. Once there, he unbuttoned his pants and made her perform oral sex, before having sex with her, the lawsuit says.
Afterwards, he released her from the jail via a side door, allegedly telling her to run away and “tell anyone who asks that Wellston picked you up”, an apparent reference to the adjacent city.
During the alleged encounter, JW captured some of Hayden’s pubic hair, which DNA analysis has confirmed is from Hayden.
Hayden’s arraignment is scheduled for 3 December.
