SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - There has been no arrests, but witnesses to an alleged sexual assault in Ocean Beach in broad daylight said the actions of one of the officers responding to the call were disturbing.
The alleged sexual assault happened Thursday in broad daylight, but no charges have been filed, and San Diego Police has said they take all potential sexual assault cases seriously.
According to the police, no arrest has been made because the alleged victim refused to press charges.
Ocean Beach resident Cornelius Harris witnessed a man sexually assaulting an unclothed and unconscious woman in broad daylight right in front of his beachside home.
"I know a lot of crazy stuff goes on down here, but this was nuts. This is a sidewalk. This is where kids walk up to go the beach. It's crazy they can do it and get away with it," he said.
Witnesses called the police.
"We said we had just witnessed a woman getting raped by a drunk man who was fully unconscious," said Justin Shon, another witnesses to the alleged sexual assault.
According to Shon, "He [the police officer] verbatim said, what the -(expletive)- do you want me to do about that? Are you guys victims of anything?"
"That officer, his response was absolutely ludicrous," said Shon.
Harris and Shon said they contacted the officer's supervisor, insisting that some action be taken against the alleged attacker, whom Harris and Shon had detained.
"We were out here for four hours before he was finally put into handcuffs and taken away," said Harris.
Police said while the alleged attacker was detained, he was not charged and later released because the woman refused to press charges.
She told officers their contact was consensual.
But for Harris and Shon, that first officer's conduct was unacceptable.
"Would you want your kid or your wife or anyone walking up on that, and then just, say, okay, go along on your way?" said Harris.
The incident quickly blew up on social media, generating a firestorm of criticism among Ocean Beach residents.
"Nothing is going to happen to that officer unless he is exposed, and I think the residents of Ocean Beach need to know that this is what is going on," said Shon.
Shon and Harris said they have filed complaints with the SDPD regarding this officer's alleged behavior.
A police spokesman said that while he could not comment on this particular case, all citizen complaints filed against officers are taken seriously and are investigated.