LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Former LVMPD Captain John Pelletier has been accused of helping cover up a gang rape involving rapper and businessman Sean "Diddy" Combs.
In a nearly 90-page lawsuit, two Las Vegas victims, who were only identified as John and Jane Doe, claim they were walking to their vehicle outside of their home when Pelletier approached them, held up a gun, and told them to get into a black SUV.
They claim he said they needed to be extradited to California for warrants. When they questioned Pelletier and said they didn't have any warrants, he allegedly "threatened to shoot [them] if they protested further.]
WATCH: Former Las Vegas police captain accused of cover-up in Sean Combs lawsuit
According to the suit, they claim Pelletier then kidnapped them and took them to a home in the north part of the valley, near Durango Drive and Grand Teton Drive, where they were physically restrained.
Eventually, the couple was forced to get into a different SUV and they made several stops in California before arriving at an apartment that belonged to Shane Pierce.
The lawsuit states the couple and Pelletier watched Combs and several other men gang rape and sexually assault a woman, who has been identified as Ashley Parham. When John and Jane yelled at the men to stop, the lawsuit claims one of the men hit Jane in the head with the handle of a firearm "to shut her up."
According to the lawsuit, Jane was taken to another room where she was sexually assaulted and that the men tried to force John to participate in the gang rape. When he refused, Combs allegedly told the men to throw John against the walls, and grab, yank, and pull John's genitals to punish him.
Local News
Former Las Vegas police official named as a defendant in new Diddy lawsuit
Later, John, Jane, and Parham worked together to escape to a neighbor's house and asked them to call the police. An officer arrived at the scene and the lawsuit claims before they were able to speak to the local officer, Pelletier "appeared and obstructed Plaintiffs from speaking to the responding officer telling the responding officer a Federal investigation was ongoing and not to interfere." The victims also claim that Pelletier handed an envelope to the neighbor, which they believed to be full of cash.
Pelletier has denied all of those claims. In a statement, he wrote in part "I firmly believe no one should face professional consequences based on unsubstantiated claims."
We reached out to the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office, Walnut Creek Police Department, and the FBI field office in Los Angeles, which were all named in the lawsuit after victims claimed to file reports with those agencies.
The Walnut Creek Police Department told us no reports were filed by Parham on the night she was assaulted, which is when the lawsuit claims she filed one. The FBI field office in Los Angeles declined to comment on the matter and referred us to the national FBI press office. We have not heard back from them or the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office by the time this article was published.
We also reached out to the victims' attorneys who told us they can't share any additional information at this time.
Pelletier worked for LVMPD for 22 years before Maui County hired him as their new police chief in 2021.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen sent a letter to the Maui Police Commission requesting that Pelletier be placed on administrative leave while the investigation into the case continues.
Channel 13 obtained a copy of the letter, which you can read below.
The Maui Police Commission holds regular meetings and will discuss this matter at the meeting on March 19.