Only hours remain!

Make a monthly gift to sustain local news on the last day of our June member drive.
1,874 sustainers of 2,500 goal
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Rialto Police Department Faces Allegations of On-Duty Officers Taking Part in Group Sex at Union Hall

rialto-sex-scandal-police2.jpg
Photo by sera_leaving via Flickr

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

On duty, off duty, sex in the narcotics office, group sex at Union Hall, physical abuse. There's a lot going on in a $500,000 claim (.pdf) filed by a strip club drink server against the city of Rialto. In it, Nancy Holtgreve of the Spearmint Rhino strip club says the "city fostered and perpetuated a culture of unwanted sexual harassment of women by male police officers," according to the San Bernardino Sun. News broke last month about Holtgreve being at the center of a sex scandal that has left her with a child and a number of officers under investigation for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with strippers while on-duty or on city property.

The claim brings to light new accusations, including group sex at the the Rialto Police Benefit Association's union hall, which has beds intended for use between shifts or while off-duty as a benefit to paying members. Another location cited in the claim is the police department's narcotics office where at least two officers are said to have sex in the there.

But the city, which refused to release the claim to the Sun, hints that they will reject it. "That claim fails to state anything that makes the city liable to this woman for her consensual acts with the police officers that were involved with her," Riato's city attorney explained.

But Holtgreve's attorney, who released the claim, says it is only the beginning. "The claims that we have made are simply the tip of the iceberg and we have substantial proof to back up these claims, and my client will move forward with a lawsuit should the city not take her claims seriously," he said.

Previously: Rialto Cops May Have Had Sex While On-Duty With Strip Club Workers

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today