UPDATE @ 3:20 p.m.
A part-time Phillipsburg police officer remains an inmate in the Montgomery County Jail as the prosecutor’s office investigates allegations of rape.
Justin Sanderson, 33, is being held on suspicion of rape but he has not been formally charged, according to jail records.
Sanderson was arrested Thursday night by Vandalia police. He’s accused of raping two women at the Knights Inn late last month, according to the police report.
Sanderson could be released from jail after 48 hours if he has not been formally charged.
UPDATE @ 4:23 p.m.
Montgomery County prosecutors released Justin Sanderson from jail pending further investigation. Prosecutors say the case is still active and remains under investigation, but Sanderson is not facing criminal charges at this time.
FIRST REPORT
A part-time Phillipsburg police officer is in the Montgomery County jail after being arrested Thursday night by Vandalia police for allegedly raping two women at a Vandalia Knights Inn hotel last month.
Justin Sanderson, 32, was booked in to jail Thursday night on a rape charge, according to jail records.
Montgomery County prosecutors are reviewing the case Friday afternoon for formal charges.
The alleged incident occurred on June 28, according to Lt. Kurt Althouse of Vandalia police.
The two women reported the incident to Vandalia police on July 3, according to Lt. Althouse and a police report.
According to the police report, the two women went to the Knights Inn on Poe Ave. in Vandalia June 28 to meet with an adult male with whom they'd agreed to have sex.
The report states Sanderson, in uniform, went into the room using a key card and forced himself upon the women.
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According to the police report, the women believed Sanderson was wearing an Ohio State University police uniform, but Lt. Althouse said Sanderson has no connection to OSU police.
Lt. Althouse said his detectives were already looking at Sanderson as a possible suspect when onThursday night, a Vandalia officer on patrol, happened to come upon a Phillipsburg police cruiser in the parking lot of the Knights Inn.
Lt. Althouse said his officer approached Sanderson and made the arrest.
Lt. Althouse said traditionally officers from other jurisdictions entering other jurisdictions for an investigation would notify the jurisdiction of their investigation.
We've tried to contact Phillisburg's police chief for comment, but have been unable to reach him.
Stay tuned to this breaking story for further developments.
Contact our newsroom at 937-259-2237 if you have a breaking news tip, or email us at newsdesk@cmgohio.com
