FORT WORTH -- A Fort Worth police officer who resigned in December, one day before he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, was back in jail Wednesday, accused of sexually assaulting four additional women while on duty.
Daniel Lopez, 33, was in the Mansfield Jail on three warrants accusing him of aggravated sexual assault and one warrant alleging sexual assault. Bail on each warrant was set at $25,000.
Authorities say the investigation began Nov. 29 after a woman reported that Lopez had sexually assaulted her on Thanksgiving night.
"She went to the police and through the course of their investigation of that case, they discovered these other cases and investigated them," said Betty Arvin, deputy chief of the Tarrant County district attorney's criminal division.
Authorities say the allegations all involve women whom Lopez had detained while on duty.
While Arvin does not believe that Lopez drew a weapon on any of the women, she said such a case can be elevated to an "aggravated" offense because he carried a gun.
"As a police officer, the fact that he had a weapon could contribute to the victim's fear or state of mind," Arvin said.
Lopez, who had been with the Police Department since 2004, had initially been placed on restricted duty after the start of the criminal and internal investigation.
He resigned Dec. 7 and was arrested the next day on a sexual assault warrant in connection with the Thanksgiving case. Court records show that he is accused of forcing the woman to give him oral sex while he was on duty.
Lopez had been free on bail when he was arrested Tuesday afternoon on the four new warrants.
Sgt. Pedro Criado, a police spokesman, confirmed Wednesday that the new warrants involve four additional victims but would not release further information. The warrants have been sealed by a judge.
Criado said that the investigation is continuing and requested that the Star-Telegram not publish Lopez's mug shot as more photo lineups are being administered.
Lopez's attorney, Jim Lane, did not return phone messages seeking comment Wednesday.
Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655
