Former Los Angeles Police Officer and U.S. Army veteran Janine Bouey filed a lawsuit on Monday against the federal government and an unidentified border patrol officer, who allegedly sexually assaulted and unlawfully arrested her at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
The 62-year old woman previously filed a complaint against the agency in June 2021 over the incident, which happened a year earlier when an officer pulled her out of the pedestrian lanes while she was trying to re-enter the United States from Tijuana, where she had undergone a dental appointment.
Bouey said officers repeatedly asked about her citizenship despite having her passport and other identification at the ready and declaring multiple times that she was a U.S. citizen. She was later arrested and alleged a female CBP officer fondled her and forced her to disrobe in front of officers as part of an apparent inspection.
Customs and Border Protection said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
“Lack of comment should not be construed as agreement or stipulation with any of the allegations.'' a CPB spokesperson said,
According to the complaint, Bouey was initially approached by a male CBP officer whose tone “was flirtatious and pushy, and he pressed Ms. Bouey to give him her home address.''
Bouey alleged the officer pulled her out of line and into the main building at the port of entry, and once inside, she allegedly was fondled by a female officer on two separate occasions, then handcuffed and shackled to a bench.
She alleges the officers ignored her requests to look up her information to verify her citizenship.
According to the suit, she was taken to a different room where she was instructed to remove her clothes, then bend over and squat while one of the officers shined a flashlight into her vaginal area.
As a result, she claimed damages are negligence, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violations of the California Constitution, and violation of the Fourth Amendment/invasion of bodily integrity.
According to the complaint, Bouey is demanding a trial.
