The officer was criminally charged in the incident, and has since entered into a plea deal with the state, the suit says.
ORANGE -- An Essex County woman has filed a federal lawsuit alleging a police officer groped her during a traffic stop last year.
Arias-Vasquez. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)Orange police officer Ricardo Arias-Vasquez was charged in December 2015 with criminal sexual contact and witness tampering after the woman reported the incident.
Arias-Vasquez, 35, of Newton, was sentenced last month to two years of probation after pleading guilty to the lesser witness tampering charge, according to criminal court records. He also forfeited his right to hold public office, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed.
The federal lawsuit filed by the woman, who is listed only by her initials, references the guilty plea in the criminal case and names Arias-Vasques, the city of Orange and the city's police department as defendants.
The woman was driving in the area of Henry Street on Nov. 18, 2015 when she was pulled over by Arias-Vasquez, who was in uniform and on patrol, according to the suit.
During the stop, Arias-Vasquez reached into the car through the driver's side window, groped her breasts and the area of her genitals, the lawsuit states. The officer left after the plaintiff begged him to stop, the suit states.
The lawsuit alleges that Arias-Vazquez had been drinking while on duty at the nearby El Rodeo Bar. The lawsuit claims illegal activity was going on the bar and other officers were involved, though those activities are not detailed.
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When the woman reported the incident at the police station, she was arrested and accused of lying about a police officer, according the lawsuit.
She also received a threatening phone call from a bar employee while at police headquarters, the lawsuit states. The woman recorded the call and turned them over to police, the lawsuit states. The bar is also named as a defendant in the woman's lawsuit.
Arias-Vasquez is also named as a defendant in a separate federal lawsuit alleging excessive force that remains pending, according to court records.
A West Orange resident filed the suit alleging he was riding a bicycle in September 2013 when Arias-Vasquez struck him with a patrol car and dragged his body while making an arrest on a drug charge.
A city spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suits Monday morning. The bar owners could not immediately be reached for comment.
Arias-Vasquez earned $57,100 as an officer, according to state pension records.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.