TUCSON, Ariz. — "He was involved in the arrest of the accuser."
That's the interaction attorney Louis Fidel says his client, a Safford Police officer, had with Jorden Marie Simms.
Authorities in Graham County say Simms was arrested for shoplifting.
Simms' family says she claims the arresting officer sexually assaulted her.
"They're absolutely false, and he denies them in the strongest possible terms," Fidel said.
A statement from the Safford Police Department on Monday says the officer has been placed on administrative leave while the Arizona Department of Public Safety investigates the accusations.
"We have every confidence that he will be cleared at the conclusion of those investigations," Fidel said.
Graham County Sheriff's officials say Simms' jumped out of sheriff's vehicle en route to a hospital after somehow removing her restraints.
Simms was taken to Banner-University Medical Center for what officials say were life-threatening injuries, she died on December 27th, six days after her arrest.
"Her life meant something, and we want to know how this happened, we want to know what she suffered prior to this event," said Crystal Barnett, a relative of Simms.
Fidel would not say where his client has been since the accusations, adding that his personal safety has been threatened.
"I really don't want to discuss his whereabouts or what he's doing. there have been some fairly concerning Facebook messages and things of that nature and so i don't think it's appropriate to discuss that sort of thing."
Simms' family says they requested a rape kit be conducted following Jorden's accusations.
For his client's part, Fidel says he has not been made aware of any results of a rape kit.
