Former DC police officer accused in sexual assault cases in MD, VA

Listen to this article

A former Washington, D.C., police officer sexually assaulted women he met on dating apps in multiple cases across the region, authorities said Monday.

Timothy Valentin, 30, of Fort Washington faces more than a dozen charges after police say he took women on dates, then drugged and assaulted them while they were unconscious. He is suspected in assaults in Alexandria, as well as in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Valentin is in custody in Alexandria and charged with rape by force, abduction with intent to defile and unlawful filming, among other counts, police said. The charges were announced by Alexandria and Prince George’s County officials at a news conference.

Authorities urged other victims, including those who have gone on dates with Valentin, to contact authorities.

News of Valentin’s arrest came on the same day the Atlantic published an investigation detailing assault allegations against him. The report, citing officials familiar with the investigation and suggesting that there are dozens more victims, said Valentin recorded the alleged assaults.

Valentin worked as a D.C. police officer between 2017 and 2022, when he resigned from the force, a police spokesman said. The spokesman would not comment on any reasons Valentin might have given for resigning or say whether he was under internal investigation at the time.

The former officer has “been known to use multiple aliases with his victims,” Takoma Park police said in a news release Monday. Prince George’s County said he uses the names “Rico” and “Teo.”

Takoma Park police said Alexandria authorities notified the department in suburban Maryland on Feb. 5 about a reported sexual assault in their jurisdiction. According to the report, Valentin is alleged to have met the victim at Blue Sunday Bar & Grill in Bowie on April 7 and then traveled with them to Society Restaurant & Lounge in Silver Spring. Police said Valentin then took the woman to Takoma Park in the 7600 block of Hammond Avenue and sexually assaulted her.

An attorney for Valentin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Efforts to reach relatives of Valentin on Monday were unsuccessful.

Valentin was awarded the Ribbon of Valor in 2021, along with dozens of other D.C. police officers, though a police spokesman declined to provide details.

This is a developing story.

Juan Benn Jr., Jasmine Golden and Peter Hermann report for The Washington Post.