The Oxford Police Department is aware of a social media post concerning an interaction between a young woman and our officers in downtown Oxford this past weekend. Because the post has received significant attention and contains several statements regarding the actions of our officers, we believe it is important to provide factual information.
First and foremost, we take any allegation involving a suspected drug-facilitated assault, drink tampering, or sexual assault seriously. Anyone who believes they may have been victimized is encouraged to contact law enforcement so that we can investigate, preserve available evidence, and connect that person with appropriate resources.
OPD has been reviewing the incident, including available body-worn camera footage and city camera footage.
Based upon our review to this point:
When officers encountered the individual, she did not report that her drink had been tampered with, that she had been assaulted, or that a crime had occurred. Officers asked if she was okay, and she indicated that she was and that she was intoxicated. Our officers remained with her throughout the encounter. They provided her with water, spoke with her, communicated with a family member, helped arrange transportation, and remained with her until that transportation arrived.
The available video does not support the statement that she was abandoned or left alone by our officers.
Before she departed, she was able to communicate where she needed to go, and officers worked to ensure she had transportation to a safe location. She was not placed into an empty vehicle by herself; a middle-aged couple was also present, and the female rideshare driver was in communication with her family during the process.
The available footage also does not support the characterization that officers treated the situation as a joke. The officers can be seen attempting to assist her, checking on her welfare, providing water, communicating with her family, and working to get her safely home.
Our standard when encountering an intoxicated person is straightforward: determine whether there is an immediate medical or safety concern and, when appropriate, help that person reach a safe location. Based on the information available to the officers at that time, that is what they attempted to do.
In this case, the video evidence provides an objective record of the officers’ interaction with this individual, and that record does not support the statements being made regarding their conduct.
On Monday, September 21, the reporting party filed a police report with us. We began investigating based on the information provided. We are continuing to review available video in an effort to establish her movements prior to the officers’ encounter and determine what additional information exists. Our investigators are also in contact with her.
Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remains ongoing. We will continue to follow the evidence, investigate all concerns, and provide our community with the facts.
We also want to address the broader concern regarding reports of drinks being tampered with in Oxford. OPD investigates reports of suspected drink tampering when they are made to us. At this time, we do not have evidence supporting claims that women are routinely being drugged in Oxford every weekend or every day. However, every individual report will be taken seriously and investigated based upon the available evidence.
We understand why allegations involving the safety of young people create fear and concern, particularly for students and their families. If you have information regarding these types of incidents or any others, please contact us at 662-232-2400.
About the Author
The address you gave for the Oxford Police Department is incorrect. That’s the old address and the department moved from there to its new facility three years ago. The correct address is 9 Industrial Park Drive and it has over 100 sworn officers and about 20 civilian staff.
Thank you for pointing that out to us. We have it corrected now.