Lawsuit: Cop in fatal shooting coerced woman in to sex

BRIDGETON – A local woman claims a city police officer forced her to repeatedly have sex last year or face a shoplifting charge that could send her to jail, according to a civil lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Camden.

The officer is identified as Braheme Days, who was one of two officers who fired shots that killed local man Jerame Reid in December.

Shakera Brown is seeking $25 million from the city and Days over the alleged incidents, which her suit claims ran from late January 2014 until December 2014.

The suit alleges Days told her: "There are two ways we can handle this: I can take you to jail, or we can handle this in an adult manner."

Reached Thursday night, police Capt. Michael Gaimari was unaware of the lawsuit.

Gaimari said he is unable to comment because the matter is in court. However, he said the allegations will be evaluated and, if warranted, referred to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office for investigation.

A message was left with the department asking that Days be informed and offering to interview him. He could not be reached.

The action was filed in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Brown's attorney is Raheem S. Watson, who is based in Philadelphia.

The suit states at the outset that: "This action arises out of the unspeakable and egregious acts of a Bridgeton, New Jersey police officer, Braheme Days, who for a period of more than a year usurped his police authority and grossly abused the public's trust by engaging in acts of sexual extortion, false imprisonment, and intimidation of Plaintiff Shakera Brown, by forcing Ms. Brown to engage in unwanted sexual acts. If Ms. Brown refused, Officer Days threatened to arrest Ms. Brown and send her to jail."

According to the 14-page action, Brown and Days met on Jan. 20, 2014 when she was approached by Days, in his cruiser, outside of a Rite Aid. Days was responding to an alleged shoplifting and allegedly said Brown fit a description of the suspect.

The suit claims that Days told her she would be arrested unless they could "work something out."

Brown states she pleaded that she had children and could not spend time in jail. Days allegedly said, "Then, I guess we're going to handle this in an adult manner."

The suit states that Days had Brown put her cellphone number into his phone and told her he would call her. She went home where about 8 p.m. Days reportedly called her to arrange a meeting.

"Ms. Brown left her house and walked to a nearby secluded street, which was not easily visible or accessible from the main road, where Officer Days was waiting in his police vehicle," the suit states.

Days allegedly went to the back of his cruiser and, leaning against it, had Brown kneel to perform oral sex. The officer then allegedly left after telling her that he would call her later that night.

Brown said she was called twice around 11 p.m. and a half hour later, and the two met and drove in Days' personal vehicle. The woman claims that Days took her to his home, possibly in Cape May County, and then to hotel in Vineland.

Brown said that a man she thinks may be a relative of Days gave them a room key. They then spent from about 1 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. having intercourse.

The woman claims she is being monitored for sexually transmitted diseases after one encounter in which Days allegedly forced her to have unprotected sex.

She also claims to be receiving psychiatric care.

According to the lawsuit, Days obtained a pre-paid cellphone for Brown and used it to contact her to arrange meetings.

In summer 2014, the suit states that Brown made a "verbal complaint to a Lieutenant Slabado (sic) of the Bridgeton Police Department" and that that he promised to investigate.

"However, following Ms. Brown's complaint to Lieutenant Slabado, Officer Days' behavior got progressively worse," the suit states.

Brown claims one encounter was at a house in Bridgton Village. She allegedly told Days she would no longer have sex with him but gave in when he told her that she had a "no bail" warrant issued for her arrest.

At that time, she claims, he also insisted on having unprotected sexual intercourse against her will. Afterward, she made an emergency appointment with her doctor for a screening for sexually transmitted diseases and continues to be checked for them. Her doctor declared her healthy, though.

Brown states that her last meeting with Days was in December 2014.

"The conduct if the defendant officer were a direct consequence of the policies and practices of Defendant City of Bridgeton," the suit states. It adds the city's practice is to "inadequately and improperly investigate citizen complaints of police misconduct."

Besides $25 million in compsensatory damages, the suit seeks punitive damages to be determined by a jury.

Days and partner Officer Roger Worley were involved in a fatal shooting on Dec. 30, 2014. The officers made a traffic stop and, in the course of questioning occupants, ended up shooting Jerame C. Reid.

Reid was a passenger in the vehicle. He was shot exiting the vehicle from the passenger's side, where Days was standing.

A dashboard camera video recorded what happened, although its interpretation is disputed. Days is seen and heard telling Reid repeatedly that he would be shot if he didn't obey his orders.

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