Daniel Ken Holtzclaw : Oklahoma Officer Accused in 6 Sexual Assaults

An Oklahoma City police officer has been arrested and accused of sexual battery and rape.

Daniel Ken Holtzclaw was arrested around 3 p.m. on Thursday after a judge approved a probable cause arrest warrant.

It is alleged he forced women to expose themselves, groped them and in at least one instance had intercourse with a victim.

The 27-year-old, who joined the force in 2011, is being held on a $5m (£3m) bail bond.

All of the victims were black females, Oklahoma City police chief Bill Citty told a news conference on Thursday evening, according to the Ann Arbor News.

Chief Citty said: “We received a complaint and also uncovered a number of other individuals, females, that had experienced the same thing with this officer.

“All his victims were black females and they range in the ages of 34 to 58.

“Right now I’ve identified seven (women), six of whom we’ve received statements from and one we’re still attempting to get statements from. So you have seven total over a period of five or six months.”

Police believe there may be even more victims who have not yet come forward.

Holtzclaw allegedly targeted the women during traffic stops or as they walked through neighbourhoods, threatening them with arrest.

He was detained on Thursday outside a gym in Oklahoma City.

Agencies/Canadajournal