Officer Michael Chavez Fired After Sexual Encounter With DUI Woman

Hundreds of cases could be impacted by an officer's firing over inappropriate conduct with a woman he picked up while on duty.

Suwanee Police Chief Michael S. Jones said he fired Officer Michael Chavez after an Inteal Affairs investigation determined he violated several department policies, including admitting to having a sexual encounter with a woman while on duty.

"The officer used poor judgment and therefore I had to dismiss him," Jones told Channel 2's Tom Jones. "People have to be professional. They have to be ethical and do the right thing."

Chief Jones said Chavez radioed in that he was picking up a woman who was walking home from a bar and taking her home late last year. The Inteal Affairs report revealed the woman had been involved in a verbal confrontation with her boyfriend.

The woman told police that Chavez said he had to use her bathroom once they arrived at her apartment. She said he eventually pushed her on a bed.

"He started trying to make out with me and he forced himself ... ," she said in a videotaped interview.

The woman said Chavez repeatedly tried to kiss her. She said she told him to stop and he eventually did. She later filed a complaint with police.

When officers questioned Chavez about the incident, Jones said Chavez admitted to more than kissing.

"His story is they had engaged in a sexual encounter," Jones said.

On the videotaped interview, the woman intently denies any sexual act took place.

In an audio-taped interview with Chavez, he said he knows he should have said no to the encounter but didn't.

"Things have been rough at home lately and I hadn't had that kind of attention in a while," Chavez said.

Chavez was on the DUI Task Force and his termination could impact hundreds of cases.

The city said it has 116 traffic cases pending and 15 DUI cases Chavez was a witness.

City officials said so far four DUI cases have been dismissed but they couldn't say if that's because of the officer's termination.

Gwinnett County's solicitor general said she is reviewing 28 cases where Chavez is listed at a witness to see if there is sufficient evidence to go forward without him.

Jones said what's important is that the citizens know officers are ethical and professional.

"Are we perfect? No. But we're trying to do the right thing," he said.

Jones said Chavez also violated policy by allowing the woman to ride in the front seat of his patrol unit and not searching her.

The woman said she even smoked a cigarette in the patrol unit while riding home.

Jones said the conflicting stories and the fact there was no probable cause is why he didn't pursue charges against the officer.