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Orange Beach Cops Cleared

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: Wed, July 02, 2008 - 5:44 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/15541/

Pat Peterson

Orange Beach Police Chief Billy Wilkins and his entire staff will sleep a little better tonight. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office has cleared six Orange Beach patrolmen in an on-going rape investigation.

"As far as we're concerned it's over," says Wilkins. "I think it's over but we still want to know why specific allegations were made against my men."

In May, a woman told authorities she was sexually assaulted by at least three police officers during a traffic stop near Perdido Pass. The woman claimed she was raped behind a sand-dune while another patrolman acted as a look-out.

DNA evidence collected from a rape kit cleared the six officers. Sheriff's investigators, who took over the case, say evidence collected also clears other police officers at nearby agencies who were questioned.

"I was confident all along that my guys didn't do this," says Wilkins. "We want to reassure people coming here that Orange Beach is one of the safest places to take a vacation."

Although the officers have been cleared, sheriff's deputies tell News 5 the investigation is still open. Detectives say the case will now go before a grand jury.