Prince George's County police officer charged with rape of woman during traffic stop

PALMER PARK, Md. - A Prince George's County police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop, the police chief said.

Detectives arrested Officer Ryan Macklin, a 6-year veteran of the department, on Monday evening, according to Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski. He is facing charges of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, second-degree assault, fourth-degree sex contact and perverted practice.

The traffic stop was conducted on University Boulevard in Langley Park at around 1 a.m. Thursday, according to police.

Officials said Macklin is accused of forcing her to perform a sexual act in her car in a nearby parking lot while he was on-duty and in uniform driving a marked police cruiser.

Surveillance video from inside a furniture store shows the officer activating his emergency lights on his cruiser to conduct the traffic stop, which was released by the police department.

"There were concerns raised that perhaps this event had something to do with the victim's personal history or her immigration status. I don't believe that to be the case," Stawinski said. "I have no information as a result of the investigation, which has proceeded for the last 72 hours, that is the case."

He added, "[The police] vehicle had pulled adjacent to the victim in this, then backed off, pulled in behind the victim and activated the emergency equipment. Again, this is one of a few videos that we have taken custody of in the last 72 hours. There are additional videos that I will not be releasing at this point. It's premature to release additional videos, but I am offering this to the community as assurance that the officer involved in this could not have known the victim's immigration status. In fact, could not have known anything about this victim prior to engaging with her."

Macklin has been suspended without pay and relieved of police powers, according to Stawinski.

Prince George's County police's Special Investigation Response Team is in charge of the investigation and is working closely with the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, officials said.

Stawinski said they have received information within the past three days that there may be other possible victims as a result of Macklin's conduct. Anyone with information regarding Macklin or the alleged sexual assault is asked to call police at 301-772-4795.