The Oxford Police Department has publicly pushed back against a woman’s social media account that she was drugged and then left alone by officers, saying a review of video evidence so far does not support her version of events.
In a statement issued Thursday, Sept. 24, the department said it is reviewing both body-worn camera and city camera footage to reconstruct what happened during a weekend encounter in downtown Oxford. The woman filed a police report on Monday, Sept. 21.
What the Woman Alleged
According to the department’s account of her claims, the woman posted on social media that her drink had been spiked and that she had no memory of the night. She also alleged that officers placed her in an Uber alone and left her, and that they treated the situation as a joke.
The post drew attention and raised broader questions about how police handle reports of possible drink tampering and drug-facilitated assault in Oxford. The woman also said she later learned she had been found in a hallway.
Police Account of the Encounter
The department described a different sequence. Officers asked the woman whether she was OK, and she told them she was intoxicated, according to the statement. Officers stayed with her, provided water and spoke with her. They also communicated with a family member and helped arrange transportation.
A middle-aged couple and a female rideshare driver were present, the department said. The woman communicated her destination before departure, and she was not placed alone in an empty vehicle, according to police.
The department said video footage does not support the claim that officers abandoned her or left her alone in an Uber.
Disputed Points
At the center of the dispute are three allegations: that officers abandoned the woman, that they put her alone in a rideshare vehicle, and that they treated the situation as a joke. The department disputes each one.
Police said officers did not treat the situation as a joke. They also said the woman did not report drink tampering or an assault to officers at the time.
The department said its standard approach in such encounters is to determine whether there is an immediate medical or safety concern, and to help intoxicated persons reach a safe location when appropriate.
Investigation Status and Broader Concerns
The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are in contact with the woman. The department said it is reviewing footage to establish her movements before the encounter and is investigating based on the information she provided.
The department said it takes reports of drug-facilitated assault, drink tampering and sexual assault seriously, and that each report is taken seriously and investigated.
Addressing broader concerns raised by the woman’s post, the department said there is no evidence that women are routinely drugged every weekend or every day in Oxford.
Police encouraged anyone with information about this incident or similar incidents to come forward. The department can be reached at 662-232-2400.
