A woman dropped a bombshell during a public meeting on the Main Line on Wednesday night.
"I was stalked and sexually assaulted by a Lower Merion police officer," she said during a televised meeting of the Lower Merion Township Commissioners.
"I was stalked outside my window. He saw me naked. And I have post-traumatic stress disorder because of this." The woman did not identify the officer publicly, but told Commissioners she would provide that information for them.
We are not identifying the woman, or her father. He spoke exclusively to NBC Philadelphia. They both claim that an obsessed township officer would park behind their home for hours while on duty, and watch the young woman and send salacious emails.
"Many, many emails, that we we haven't even opened them all. Some we're just opening now and they're devastating," the father said.
The woman met the officer, who is twenty years older, through Facebook last summer, according to the dad. The two exchanged emails, but then, according to the father, the officer became obsessed with his daughter. In the fall, the father says the officer inappropriately touched his daughter.
"She related to me that she was sexually assaulted by him. That's when we took action and went to the Commissioners," he said.
With the help of a neighbor, multiple emails were sent to Lower Merion Township Commissioners, according to the dad.
"There had been some emails that had gone around. Certainly, we had not heard about any sexual assault allegations," said Commissioner Jenny Brown, who says she was stunned by last night's tearful announcement. Brown alerted District Attorney Risa Ferman who said it's a serious allegation.
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"And it should be referred to law enforcement and so when it comes to us, we'll certainly be looking at it," said Ferman.
The woman's father said his daughter was in fear of filing a police report and the family felt shunned by township officials. He said that's why they decided to take such a drastic step.
"It took a lot of courage for me to come up her and to speak," the woman said last night. She broke down during her statement, which took less than two minutes.
"I'm sorry I can't speak more. I'm very nervous and I''m sad. This is something that's been troubling me over a year now and I just want justice. I'm not seeking money; I'm not seeking anything but just not to happen to another girl. That's all. Thank you."
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