The woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by an Edmonton Police Service officer has filed a $1.5-million lawsuit against the officer and the EPS chief. On Thursday, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates allegations of police misconduct, announced Const. Renzo Geronimo had been charged with sexual assault, unlawful confinement, unlawfully in a dwelling house, and breach of trust. According to the lawsuit, the assault happened on Aug. 27, 2023. The victim was at a gas station at 164 Street and 21 Avenue SW at 2:37 p.m. when she noticed a police cruiser in the parking lot. The woman reported that the cruiser followed her when she drove away, and as she drove by the Jager Ridge Golf Course, the officer activated the cruiser’s lights and pulled her over. The document shows the officer told the woman he had pulled her over because she was driving 70 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, and swerving. The woman denied the allegations, and the officer took her documents back to his cruiser to review. While he was in his cruiser, the victim called her mother to tell her what was happening. The filing says the officer returned and took the phone from the woman and told her he would drive behind her to make sure she got home OK. The woman initially stopped at her community mailbox on the way to her home, but she says the officer rolled down his window and yelled at her that this was not her home and she needed to keep moving. When the woman arrived home, she parked in her driveway, and the officer parked his cruiser behind her, blocking her in, the claim says. The woman says the officer followed her into her home, and after saying hello to her mother, asked her to show him around. While they were in the basement, the woman reported the officer began to make comments such as, “your mom is two floors above us”, “are you wearing anything under your shirt and leggings” and “no one will hear us down here.” The document says he then aggressively began to pull the woman toward him, and the woman asked him to stop. She says the officer forcibly kissed her and put his hand in her pants. The woman says she tried to leave the basement but the officer prevented her from doing so. According to the document, before the officer ultimately left the woman’s home, he put his number in her phone. After he left, the woman says she got a call from an unknown number, and it was the officer offering to drive her to her community mailbox to get her mail. She felt like she had no choice, according to the court document, and got in the car with the officer. She said he demanded she relinquish her cell phone and she gave him the two cell phones she had on her. Ten to 20 minutes later, the woman said that her mother came outside and came over to the cruiser and had a friendly conversation with the officer before he drove off. According to the documents, the woman called police shortly after the officer left to report the assault. The investigation was transferred to ASIRT. ‘A moment of great relief’ The woman filed her suit on April 28 against the officer and then EPS chief Dale McFee. The suit is still before the courts. On Thursday, the woman released a written statement to CTV News Edmonton through her lawyer in light of the charges against Geronimo. “Today is a moment of great relief to me. For over two years I have lived in fear and anxiety over seeing this police officer again. I was never allowed to know his name and, even though I understand why, it added to my fear of what this unknown man might do to me,” she wrote. “As the months and years went on, I almost lost hope that I would be believed and that justice would be served. The Crown’s decision today to lay charges isn’t the end of this horrible experience but at least now I can see the end in sight. I want to thank ASIRT and the Crown for their work on this file. It took longer than I believed it should have but in the end the right decision was made.” In a statement to CTV News Edmonton, EPS said Geronimo is still on duty. “Cost. Geronimo is currently in a non-frontline role and his duty status moving forward, in light of the recent criminal charges, is currently under review. He is a five-year member of the Edmonton Police Service,” Carolin Maran wrote. “As per standard process, EPS Professional Standards Branch will commence an investigation under the Police Service Regulation following the resolution of the court proceedings.” Geronimo has been released and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10.
