Woman Accuses Officer of Sexual Advances During Traffic Stop

A 19-year-old woman, on trial for allegedly resisting arrest and evading a police officer, sped away from a traffic stop last December because the officer made sexual advances toward her, her lawyer charged Wednesday.

Julie Brown, attorney for Monica Denise Chandler, a Saddleback College student from Aliso Viejo, said a California Highway Patrol officer suggested that if Chandler wanted “to slide out of this ticket, slide down your pants.”

The officer, Cpl. Steve Webb, a 9 1/2-year veteran of the CHP, has denied any wrongdoing.

In the prosecution’s opening remarks, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jimmy Harris called the incident on the night of Dec. 21 “a routine traffic stop” until Chandler refused to sign a traffic ticket and drove away.

The incident began about 7:10 p.m. at the off-ramp from southbound Interstate 5 to Lake Forest Drive, according to Webb’s testimony. The officer said that as he waited on his motorcycle at the off-ramp, ready to turn onto Lake Forest Drive, Chandler sped past him, going west on Lake Forest Drive in her car and allegedly running the changing red light in front of him.

Webb said he switched on his flashing red lights and his siren and gave chase, catching up with Chandler as she approached Moulton Parkway.

At that point, their accounts of what happened differ, according to court testimony and records.

Chandler has said Webb attempted to steer her off to a dark section of road and she refused. Instead, she said, she drove to a well-lighted parking space in a shopping center.

When the officer made sexual advances, Chandler “became hysterical and panicked” and drove off, according to Brown.

Later, while Chandler was being placed under arrest, the officer allegedly “felt (Chandler) up in the guise of patting her down,” according to court documents filed by Brown.

Webb said he radioed for help and caught up with Chandler several miles away near the intersection of Paseo de Valencia and El Toro Road, where she was placed under arrest.

The trial will continue today before Judge Ronald P. Kreber in South County Municipal Court.