Former YPD officer stands trial for rape accusations

Jared Elkins, the former Yuma Police Department officer accused of raping a woman in San Diego, faced his accuser in trial this week.

KGTV reported that Elkins stood in court Tuesday where his accuser said he raped her over and over in her home located in the Kensington neighborhood of San Diego. The 23-year-old woman, his now ex-wife’s cousin, said Elkins threatened to kill her if she yelled for help. The wife was asleep across the hall the night of the incident.

The victim added that following the alleged rape, she ran into her mother’s room and escaped out a window. Authorities played her mother’s 911 call in court Tuesday.

San Diego police body cam footage released showed the accuser hysterical while sitting in the back of the police car. In the video, the woman told the officer how afraid she was.

Elkin’s attorney argued that the sex was consensual and that he used bad judgment since the two were drinking. Elkins, who pleaded not guilty, is facing nine charges that include forcible rape.

KGTV also reported that a juror in the trial was dismissed on Tuesday after he was seen speaking to a family friend of Elkins on Monday. The judge in the case was informed that the juror spoke to the friend about Horton Plaza, firefighting and the San Diego State Aztecs out the courtroom.

Elkins resigned from YPD in January after he faced accusations of rape in September of 2017.