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Wilkes-Barre Township swears in new police chief

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Luzerne County Community College nursing students graduate

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Two more women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by former Wilkes-Barre police officer Robert Collins while on duty sued him in federal court and added the city and five unnamed officers as defendants, claiming they knew of his behavior and did nothing to stop it.</p><p>The civil complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Scranton, was the second suit alleging violations of the women&#8217;s Fourth Amendment constitutional right against of unlawful searches and seizures and due process protections under the Fourteenth Amendment.</p><p>The two Luzerne County women in the most recent complaint were identified as J. Doe, 30, and R.A. Doe, 37, in order to protect their privacy due to the nature of the allegations. Three other women in the first suit also used pseudonyms for privacy.</p><p>City Attorney Tim Henry Monday said it is the policy of the city of Wilkes-Barre not to comment on pending litigation.</p><p>The complaint, filed by attorneys Matthew T. Comerford and Curt Parkins in Scranton, contained similar allegations from the other suit that Collins preyed on the women, both admitted drug addicts, to satisfy his sexual desires and threatened them with jail if they reported him.</p><p>J. Doe met with law enforcement agents twice, in 2015 and 2017, regarding her past encounters with Collins and told them he forced her to perform oral sex on him after a traffic stop in 2014, the complaint said.</p><p>But it was not until January of this year that state police arrested Collins, 53, of Wright Township, on multiple counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, witness intimidation, official oppression and other related charges involving four women. He retired from the department in February while on paid suspension and began receiving an annual pension of $33,587 for his 12 years on the force and four years of military service.</p><p>Collins has been free on $125,000 bail pending his criminal trial in September in Luzerne County Court.</p><p>J. Doe alleged she had dealings with Collins from approximately 2012 through this past February when he violated a condition of his release on $125,000 bail. Collins, who is not to have contact with her, reportedly went to the eatery in Wilkes-Barre where she works and stared at her, making her fear for her well-being, the suit alleges.</p><p>R.A. Doe also met with law enforcement between 2015 and 2017, who questioned her about her sexual relationship with Collins, the complaint said. She told them he picked her up on Carey Avenue in late 2014 and informed her there was a warrant for her arrest. The woman claims he noticed she looked high and searched her, finding a small amount of cocaine her pocket. Collins arrested her, drove her to a secluded location and forced her to perform oral sex on him, threatening her not to report it or &#8220;it would __ck her in the long run,&#8221; the complaint said. She complied and was not charged, the complaint said.</p><p>Both women said they were unaware the city had a policy of failing to investigate officers for misconduct, leading to Collins&#8217; actions toward them and causing their injuries. The complaint listed six instances involving Collins and unnamed women to show a pattern of sexual abuse and violations of their civil rights.</p><p>In each of the nine counts of the complaint, J. Doe and R.A. Doe asked for in excess of $150,000 in damages, attorney fees, costs and any other relief deemed justified by the court. </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Collins </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_R-Collins.jpg</photo0><caption0>Collins </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Second federal suit filed against ex-Wilkes-Barre officer Collins; alleges bail violation