Victim texted boss for help after alleged rape by lieutenant May 10, 2021 at 3:50 PM EDT - Updated May 10 at 7:21 PM
A Miami-Dade police lieutenant posted bail and was released from custody this weekend following his
arrest Friday on sexual assault charges in Palm Beach Gardens.
The alleged incident occurred at PGA National Resort & Spa on April 25.
According to court records, John Anthony Jenkins, 50, was in Palm Beach County attending the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association Gala in Jupiter that evening.
The victim said she was downstairs at a bar area with other people who attended the gala but later decided to go to her room and sleep, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.
The incident occurred in the 17000 block of Southwest 31st Court inside the Pelican Cove community. Police say the incident happened after two women left the party and later came back with two men when the shooting began. Police say a gun and a significant amount of shell casings were recovered on the scene. All three victims were taken to local hospitals and are in stable condition.
Aventura Police say two groups of people got into a fight near the Hugo Boss store at the luxury mall, located at 19501 Biscayne Boulevard. Someone brought out a gun, but another man drew his gun and started shooting. Three people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Several people were detained in connection to the fight, Aventura Police said. The person who fired their weapon ran away from the mall and is at large.
New Details in Sex Battery Allegations Against Miami-Dade Police Lieutenant, Ex-Union Official NBC 6 Digital Team
File image of a Palm Beach Gardens Police officer
A Miami-Dade Police lieutenant and former high-ranking union member allegedly forced his way into a woman s hotel room before he sexually battered her, according to a police report released Monday.
Lt. John Anthony Jenkins, 50, turned himself in Friday to face sexual battery charges in the incident that allegedly took place last month in Palm Beach Gardens.
Jenkins attorney said he looks forward to have a chance in court to clear his name and reputation, the Miami Herald reported.
The alleged victim, an employee of the Florida PBA, was also attending the event and staying at the same hotel, the report said.
According to the report, the woman said she had been in the hotel bar with co-workers after the gala and had decided to go to her room to sleep when her friend asked her if she wanted him to walk her to her room as he had the previous few nights, but Jenkins said he was also leaving and would walk with her.
The woman said that when she opened the door to her room, Jenkins followed her inside, pushed her against a wall and began forcibly kissing her, telling her he s had a crush on her for some time, the report said.
Miami-Dade police officer charged with sexual battery
A Miami-Dade police lieutenant and former high-ranking union member has been charged with sexual battery and was booked into Palm Beach County Jail on Friday, according to police.
John Jenkins Jr. has been “relieved of his official duties as a Miami-Dade Police Department lieutenant,” said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III in a statement on Saturday statement.
Ramirez said he suspended Jenkins “immediately” after being notified of an off-duty incident involving Jenkins on April 25 in the city of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
“Now learning of his arrest, it has brought a sense of disappointment that is immeasurable,” Ramirez said.