SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A San Diego police officer charged with 18 felonies was fired, although he is still awaiting trial, the San Diego Police Department announced Friday.
Officer Anthony Arevalos, an 18-year veteran of the SDPD, was arrested March 11 after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her during a traffic stop in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Four other women came forward and accused Arevalos, 40, of trying to elicit sexual favors during traffic stops in the same area.
He had been suspended from the department prior to being terminated.
Arevalos has pleaded not guilty to 18 felony counts, including sexual battery, false imprisonment, assault under color of authority and accepting a bribe.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
In recent months, four other San Diego police officers have been accused of various crimes, including DUI, hit-and-run, domestic abuse, rape and stalking a fellow officer.
This is a breaking news alert. The original story is below.
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A San Diego police officer arrested on a sexual battery charge is now accused by an SDSU student of propositioning her during a traffic stop.
According to the police chief, 18 year veteran officer Anthony Arevalos posted bail after being arrested last Friday for committing sexual battery on a woman he pulled over in the Gaslamp on March 8.
Kerry Armstrong represents the new victim, a woman who was pulled over by the officer in December 2010 in downtown. She was given a citation for driving under the influence. The student says officer Arevalos became suggestive about other ways the DUI charge could go away.
"He started asking her some questions about what can you offer me? What can we do? Would you like to go to the back seat of the patrol car?" said defense attorney Kerry Armstrong.
In February 2010, Arevalos was investigated on a charge of sexual penetration under color of authority, but court records show the DA declined to file charges for lack of evidence.
"It looks like a pattern that this officer is trying to pick up younger girls who are drunk or who have had some alcohol coming out of the Gaslamp at 1:30 or 2 in the morning. It looks horrible," continued Armstrong.
Aravalos will be arraigned on sexual battery charges tied to the March 8 incident next Monday.
No word yet on charges for the new allegations.
