N.J. officer in shooting probe accused of extorting sex

A federal lawsuit filed Thursday against a Cumberland County, N.J., police officer involved in a controversial fatal shooting alleges that he extorted sex from a woman in exchange for keeping her out of jail.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Camden on behalf of a 22-year-old Bridgeton woman against Bridgeton Police Officer Braheme Days, the Bridgeton Police Department, and the City of Bridgeton.

In the suit, Shakera Brown says she was stopped by Days outside a Rite Aid pharmacy on Jan. 20, 2014, in response to a shoplifting complaint.

Days offered not to arrest her if they could "work something out," the suit says. Brown said she had children and could not go to jail, to which Days responded, "Then I guess we're going to handle this in an adult manner," according to the suit.

Days later forced her to perform oral sex on him while he leaned against his patrol car, and after his shift took her to a Comfort Inn in Vineland, N.J., and forced her to perform sex acts, the suit alleges.

The extorted sex continued through December, according to the suit.

During the summer, Brown allegedly complained to a police lieutenant, who said he would look into the matter.

At one point, according to the suit, Brown was forced to have unprotected sex with Days, and afterward she went to her gynecologist for an emergency screening for sexually transmitted diseases.

Brown is undergoing psychiatric treatment as a result of the alleged situation with Days, according to the suit, which seeks more than $25 million in damages.

Bridgeton officials could not be reached for comment late Thursday afternoon.

In a separate case allegedly involving Days, the county Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting death of 36-year-old Jerame Reid during a Dec. 30, 2014, traffic stop. Days was shown in a dashboard-camera video repeatedly shooting Reid. Days' partner also fired during the encounter.

Days said he saw a gun in the glove compartment and ordered Reid, who was a passenger, to show his hands. Reid suddenly emerged from the car with his hands up and Days began shooting.

Protesters have decried the shooting as unwarranted. A protest march is scheduled for noon Saturday in Bridgeton.