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Ex-Philadelphia Police Officer Arrested On Charges He Sexually Assaulted Male Witnesses, Suspects

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) - A former Philadelphia police officer has been arrested and charged with rape after allegedly sexually assaulted male witnesses and suspects over more than a decade. Philadelphia police arrested 52-year-old Philip Nordo, formerly of the Homicide Unit, without incident, at his home Tuesday.

Nordo was scheduled to be arraigned in the multi-count grand jury presentment Tuesday afternoon.

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He has been charged with rape, indecent sexual assault, attempted indecent deviate sexual assault and stalking, among other charges.

Authorities allege that Nordo used his position to intimidate and groom male suspects and witnesses into sexual encounters. The heavily redacted presentment contains roughly 35 charges related to three victims including rape, stalking and sexual assault.

Nordo is accused of volunteering to transport inmates and witnesses for other detectives to allegedly meet more victims. The first case happening in April 2005 at East Detectives.

It's claimed Nordo obtained a confession from a suspect in a robbery. It's alleged he directed the defendant to perform a sex act.

A day later, the defendant filed a complaint and the incident was investigated. It's unclear why the investigation stalled and was never concluded. Now, 14 years later, some of the accusations are coming to light.

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"It's no question you worry about what impact this will have on the integrity of other folks. There are people in that unit who work tirelessly on some of the most complex investigations that you can imagine. It's a very difficult job to do to work in the Homicide Unit. I actually feel bad for them because they have to deal with something like this," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

Nordo was fired in 2017 after an allegation was received that he improperly paid a witness and had fraternized with people connected to criminal conduct.

A phone call to an attorney previously listed for Nordo was not immediately returned Tuesday.

(©Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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