Rape investigation ends in 40-hour suspension for King County deputy
A woman alleged that King County deputy James Taylor sexually assaulted her while she was mentally vulnerable and too intoxicated to consent.
Content note: The following post contains descriptions of sexual assault and self-harm
A King County Sheriff’s Office deputy was accused of raping a woman inside her apartment in 2024 while she was too drunk and medicated to consent. The allegations against Deputy James Taylor did not result in criminal charges, but the sheriff’s office issued Taylor a 40-hour suspension for conduct unbecoming and other policy violations.
Taylor is now on administrative leave, pending the completion of a second investigation based on new information the department uncovered while looking into the rape allegations, according to a filing KCSO submitted to the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission in October.
Because the alleged rape occurred in Seattle, the Seattle Police Department’s sexual assault unit launched a brief criminal investigation in March that primarily consisted of a single interview with the victim.
According to the police report, Taylor first met the woman on Dec. 20, 2023, while she was inebriated and having “some kind of episode” at a Starbucks in Ballard. Taylor walked into the store wearing his KCSO uniform, and a patron asked him to help her. The woman said she was “lonely and sad” and that Taylor was “warm and caring.” They walked around Ballard for two hours, and she gave him her number.
The next day, she decided to end her life by taking four bottles of antidepressants that she had saved. Taylor called her and told her that he had a Christmas present for her. They met again in Ballard and walked around until she collapsed. Taylor gave her Narcan and called an ambulance.
‘It was just loneliness’
She remained in the hospital for three weeks. After she got out, she and Taylor started meeting weekly for coffee, pie, and sandwiches while he was in uniform and on duty. She described Taylor as “very, very flirtatious,” but on her side, “it was just loneliness.”
This continued for months until April 25, 2024. The woman was feeling depressed and drinking heavily when she received a text from Taylor, asking if he could bring her some pie to cheer her up. She reluctantly agreed.
He came over and asked if she was drunk. When she told him that she was and broke down in tears, he said, “It’s okay.” Taylor put the pie down and began hugging her. Then, he started kissing her on the neck and walking her back to the bedroom.
She told the detective that “she remembered not wanting to have sex” but that it “happened so fast” it was “almost a blur.” The woman only recalls staring up at the ceiling, waiting for it to be over.” Afterward, Taylor put his pants on and left. She cried and took a shower. Later, he texted her, “That was amazing.”
Two weeks later, she told a friend who works for King County about it, and her friend recommended filing a complaint with KCSO. Her friend was concerned that the woman could not give consent, given her intoxication and mental health issues, and that there was also an inherent power imbalance due to Taylor being an armed, uniformed officer.
The woman ultimately did not file a complaint, but her friend did. When a King County internal affairs detective contacted the woman, she admitted to him that she had been raped, and the case was forwarded to SPD.
SPD completed its investigation at the end of March and forwarded it to the King County prosecutor for review without recommending charges.