When will It Stop and When will Spears be held accountable

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis police officer was charged Wednesday with five felony counts in connection with a rape accusation made over the weekend.

Courtney Harris, 33, pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual misconduct, criminal confinement, intimidation, official misconduct and obstruction of justice during an initial court appearance on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Harris had sex with a 26-year-old woman while he was on duty Saturday.


The woman told investigators that she encountered Harris near 10th and Rural streets and that he followed her, grabbed her and took her to an area near an abandoned warehouse, where he had sex with her.

According to court documents, Harris gave the woman $12 and told her that's all the encounter was worth.

"The incident involving police Officer Courtney Harris is inconsistent with the values and integrity of the officers who serve at the (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)," Chief Michael Spears said in a news release. "Officer Harris' action tarnished the department and broke the trust that the community has placed in the police department."

Authorities said Harris admitted having sex with the woman but said that the encounter was consensual.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said his office is still investigating.

"The one charge we did not file, because we are awaiting fuhrer evidence ... is rape. The thing we want to be sure about is the force element," he said.

The woman has a criminal past, including charges related to prostitution, drugs and criminal recklessness.

Harris' attorney, Terrance Kinard, said the there should not be a rush to judgment.

"Most people don't want to go to jail. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for her to make those statements simply because she didn't want to go to jail," he said.

Indianapolis police Lt. Jeff Duhamell said Monday that Harris, a six-year veteran of the department, had been recommended for termination. Harris was being held Wednesday in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bond.