Women who accused cop of sex crimes seek to resume lawsuit

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Attorneys for several women who accused former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw of sexual assault are asking a federal judge to allow a civil case to move forward now that a jury has found Holtzclaw guilty of rape and other charges.

Attorneys on Monday asked a judge to lift a stay put in place while Holtzclaw’s criminal case was pending.

An Oklahoma County jury last week found Holtzclaw guilty of 18 of 36 charges alleging that he sexually victimized women he encountered while patrolling low-income neighborhoods on the city’s northeast side.

Seven of the 13 women who accused Holtzclaw are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against him and Oklahoma City. Among other things, they allege the city was negligent in its hiring and supervision of Holtzclaw.

The city denies that.