MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Thursday that the state Grand Jury for Shelby County indicted a former Memphis Police Officer for an alleged sexual assault last year.

The Grand Jury on Thursday indicted John Smith, 51, for rape and official oppression. 

According to the indictment, the alleged incident occurred on October 26, 2009.  Smith was an officer assigned to the Raines Station at the time of the alleged incident, which reportedly occurred behind a building near Third and Brooks.  Smith was later moved to the South Main Station.  He resigned from the Memphis Police Department earlier this month

Memphis police officers took Smith into custody Thursday afternoon. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.

“It is disturbing any time a law enforcement officer breaks the law. It is especially troubling when a law enforcement officer uses his or her power to detain someone for the purpose of committing a crime,” said District Attorney Gibbons.  “We cannot tolerate such conduct,” Gibbons stated.

The charge of rape is a class B felony, which carries a standard sentence of 8 – 12 years in prison without parole.  The charge of official oppression is a class E felony, which carries a standard sentence of 1 – 2 years in prison.