Tentative Settlement Reached in SDPD Civil Lawsuit

The woman identified as "Jane Doe" entered a convenience store bathroom with then-Officer Anthony Arevalos

A tentative settlement has been reached in the civil lawsuit filed by an alleged victim of a former San Diego Police Officer convicted of multiple sex crimes committed while on duty and in uniform.

NBC 7 obtained court documents signed Wednesday indicating a tentative agreement has been reached between the woman, identified only as Jane Doe, and the City of San Diego. 

Trial had been set to begin August 12 in Jane Doe's civil suit regarding the traffic stop with former San Diego Police Officer Anthony Arevalos in March 2011.

"The parties have tentatively reached a settlement, and there are some things to be finalized. We will be jointly making a statement later,” a spokesperson for the plaintiff's attorneys told NBC 7.

Arevalos pleaded for mercy from the court, explaining that his family was hurt by his actions.
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Anthony Arevalos wipes away tears during his statement in court.
Cynthia Faram
Jurors have a verdict in the trial of a former San Diego police officer accused of sexual battery, false imprisonment and asking for a bribe during Gaslamp Quarter traffic stops. Here, Arevalos appears at a pretrial hearing in March 2011.
"Jane Doe" in the upper left of the screen is on a phone call with Anthony Arevalos while a police detective coaches her through notes. The video of the phone call was entered into evidence in court Thursday.
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"Jane Doe" testified how the former officer made a deal with her to go into a 7-11 bathroom and remove her underwear in exchange for getting out of a DUI citation.
The convenience store near Petco Park where "Jane Doe" testified Anthony Arevalos took her during her traffic stop on March 8, 2011.
The bathroom key was kept behind the door on the left. The bathroom is behind the door on the right in the convenience store near Petco Park where "Jane Doe" testified Anthony Arevalos took her during her traffic stop on March 8, 2011.
The prosecution witness marked the location in the bathroom where she said she stood during the incident on March 8, 2011.
The prosecution witness marked the location in the bathroom where she said she stood during the incident on March 8, 2011.
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Jurors saw a list of text messages sent between alleged victim "Jane Doe" and the former police officer.
Jurors saw a photo of the former officer's patrol car.
Jurors saw photos of the Intoxilyzer machine in the trunk of Arevalos patrol car.
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Talia Tortora is not one of the alleged victims but she testified for the prosecution. Arevalos cited her for driving on a suspended license, but then gave her and her female roommate a ride home. She said he acted quote "creepy," and made inappropriate comments about her roommate's body, then ripped up the citation.
Anthony Arevalos makes notes during testimony on Day 3 of his trial - October 26, 2011. The former San Diego police officer is accused of 21 felonies including assault under color of authority in connection with traffic stops of young women in the Gaslamp.
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San Diego police detective James Clark testifies that he talked with a friend about Melissa R.'s traffic stop and ran the ID badge and officer's name in an internal department system to check to see if he was working the day of the alleged incident.
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Anthony Arevalos consults with his defense attorney Jan Ronis during a break in testimony October 26, 2011.
A friend of one of the alleged victims in the case, Peri Spiler, testified on Oct. 26 that she wishes she had done more to stop the former police officer.
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Alleged victim Melissa R. testified on Oct. 25 and said she was never handcuffed or searched while in the former officer's custody.
Two pairs of women's underwear were entered into evidence on Oct. 24, 2011.
SDPD
Officer Anthony Arevalos, 40, an 18-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, was arrested in March 2011 for accused sexual battery, false imprisonment and assault under the color of authority.
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One pair of panties can be seen inside the upper area of the former officer's locker in this photograph entered as evidence in the trial.
NBCSanDiego
Danielle F.'s outfit the night in question.
Arevalos consults with his attorneys during opening statements.
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Danielle F.'s shoes the night in question. This photo was entered into evidence.
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The former police officer's work locker. This photo was entered into evidence.
Cynthia Faram
Arevalos at a March 2011 court appearance.
One of the alleged victims testified in a pretrial hearing. The judge ordered her identity be shielded.
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The woman identified as Jane Doe (L) was a key witness in the case against Arevalos.
Cynthia Faram
Defense attorney Jan Ronis spoke to the media following the preliminary hearing on March 30, 2011.
Cynthia Faram
Prosecutor Sherry Thompson spoke to the media following the preliminary hearing on March 30, 2011.

Arevalos was convicted of eight counts of sexual battery, assault and asking for bribes.

Prosecutors had said a routine traffic stop involving "Jane Doe" turned into a sexual assault when then-Officer Arevalos suggested the two of them go into a nearby convenience store bathroom.

The two entered the restroom with the agreement that she would give him her panties, and in exchange he would not charge her for a DUI, prosecutors said.

On Tuesday, the final pretrial conference took place in the civil case against Anthony Arevalos. As NBC 7’s Elena Gomez explains, the jury could hear from more than a dozen women alleging abuse against the former SDPD officer.

Once inside, the victim said, Arevalos touched and rubbed her genitals. A Superior Court judge threw out two criminal counts involving that allegation, however, because of how evidence was shared between legal teams.

The evidence was ruled to still be relevant to the civil case, however.

No details on the agreement were released.

Unless one side decides against the settlement agreement, a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4 to discuss terms.

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