PG County Cop Charged With Rape, More Victims Possible: Chief

LANGLEY PARK, MD — A Prince George's County police officer pulled a woman over during a late-night traffic stop and raped her, the police chief says. The officer is in custody on multiple charges including first-degree rape, but Police Chief Hank Stawinski says there could be other women who were targeted by Police Officer First Class Ryan Macklin.

Authorities arrested Macklin Monday night. He has been with the department for six years and is assigned to the Bureau of Patrol. He’s charged with a total of five charges – first-degree rape, second-degree rape, perverted practice, second-degree assault and fourth-degree sex offense.

“The charges against this officer are highly troubling. Officers take an oath to protect others, not to abuse their authority in order to victimize someone. Those who live and work in Prince George’s County deserve the very best from the men and women of this department,” said Chief Stawinski.

Investigators say Macklin pulled over the driver early Thursday morning on University Boulevard in Langley Park, then forced her to perform a sexual act while they were both seated in her car in a nearby parking lot. Macklin was on-duty, in uniform, and driving a marked police cruiser at the time. There is no evidence that shows why he targeted the woman; surveillance video from a nearby business shows Macklin activating his emergency equipment on his cruiser to begin the traffic stop. (See the video at the bottom of this story.)

Macklin has been suspended without pay.

Stawinski said at a press conference that he released the video to show that Macklin could not have known the woman’s immigration status before pulling her over.

“I want to praise the victim in this for having the courage to come forward. She came forward with the encouragement of some of her friends. We can’t address these issues of any kind, whether its police misconduct, whether its criminal conduct, whether its gangs, whatever the case may be. We can’t address those things without the cooperation of the community,” Stawinski said, in a WTOP report.

He also told reporters he’s convinced that the accusations against the officer were leaked to the press before charges were filed, in an effort to undermine the investigation. “If I find out who leaked this information, they will be dealt with in the harshest possible manner,” said Stawinski.

The PGPD’s Special Investigation Response Team is leading this investigation with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. Investigators want to talk to anyone who has information about Macklin or who may have had a similar experience with him. Both English and Spanish speakers are asked to call investigators at 301-772-4795.

Photo of Police Officer First Class Ryan Macklin, courtesy of Prince George's County Police Department