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PLAINS TWP. — As news broke Friday about an Ashley officer who allegedly coerced a woman into oral sex during a traffic stop, investigators were interviewing a second woman who described a similar incident.

Mark Eric Icker, 29, was arraigned late Friday for the second case and jailed for lack of $1 million cash bail on six new charges, including a felony count of sexual assault. The bail amount shocked the now-suspended officer’s lawyer who argued in length about allowing Icker to remain free.

Meanwhile, county detectives are still investigating and are asking any other potential victims to come forward.

“If anyone has any information regarding any criminal activity that Mr. Icker might have been involved with or there were other individuals that were a victim of his, please reach out and call law enforcement,” said Luzerne County Detective Charles Balogh.

The detective said Icker had been working up until about a week ago at three different police departments: Ashley, Sugar Notch and Jessup in Lackawanna County.

The police chief in Sugar Notch said Icker was fired and previous arrests he made are being reviewed.

During his midnight arraignment before District Judge Joseph Spagnuolo Jr., Icker sat at the defense table in handcuffs by himself as lawyer Bernard Brown spoke to the judge via teleconference.

Brown said Icker, of Dickson City, has turned in his badge, gun and uniform and has no access to those items.

When Spagnuolo set bail at $1 million cash, the defense attorney mumbled “obscene” and then noted: “I’ve never seen $1 million set for anybody.”

Spagnuolo, his voice rising, cut off the attorney.

“Your objection’s noted, counselor,” said the judge. “I’ve let you speak enough.”

Spagnuolo also pointed out that part of his job is to ensure the public’s safety.

When asked if the allegations against him were true as he was being led out of court, Icker did not respond.

When asked if he wanted to say anything, he again remained silent.

In the first case filed against him, Icker reportedly confessed to not charging a woman with DUI in exchange for oral sex Dec. 9.

Case details

The second alleged victim said she was pulled over by Icker just before midnight Dec. 2.

A criminal complaint picks up the story from there:

Icker stopped the woman and told her she was driving a vehicle with no registration.

She told him she just purchased the vehicle and it wasn’t registered and she had no insurance.

Icker then told her he could smell marijuana and asked if she had recently been smoking pot. She told him she had not smoked it today.

Icker insinuated the woman was driving under the influence, which she denied. He eventually detained her by placing her in handcuffs while he searched her vehicle.

He found a box of cigarettes containing “half of a blunt,” the complaint states.

Icker asked the woman, “How can you help me, help you?” He reportedly used the same line with the woman in the first case filed against him.

During the Dec. 2 stop, the victim called her best friend and asked her to come to where she was pulled over.

But when the friend got there, Icker got out to talk to her.

“While in the back seat (of the cruiser), the victim stated that she was yelling her friend’s name and moving her head back and forth to get her attention,” the complaint states.

The friend pulled away, however, without getting the chance to speak with the woman.

Eventually, Icker drove the victim to an empty police station where he told her: “I’m trying to help you out.”

He unzipped his pants zipper, closed a door, and had the woman perform oral sex on him.

The woman told police she felt powerless and had no chance to get out of the situation. She also said Icker fondled her breasts during the encounter.

As he drove the woman back to her vehicle, the officer said he’s on his second marriage and has two children, one daughter and a stepson. He also told her that marriage is boring.

While dropping her off at her car, Icker noted: “Sucks this is how we met. Hope to see you again.”

A few days later, the woman said the officer requested to add her as a friend on the Snapchat social media app.

Det. Balogh advised other potential victims to contact the DA’s office during regular business hours at 570-825-1674. On weekends, they can call 911 and ask to be connected to Balogh or Chief Det. Michael Dessoye.

“Please don’t be afraid,” Balogh said.

‘Never heard any complaint’

Sugar Notch Police Chief Jeremy Talanca said Icker was fired Friday morning.

“Once we were made aware, we took swift action to terminate him,” said Talanca. “We don’t condone the behavior Icker is alleged to have engaged in from anyone.”

Icker was on Sugar Notch’s roster of officers, but only served on a part-time basis, according to Talanca.

“We hired him (Icker) in February of this year,” said the chief. “But he was part-time and we used him as needed. We used him if we needed him to cover a shift.”

Talanca added: “We never heard any complaint about him before we hired him. Any complaints would have been investigated thoroughly.”

Talanca said his department will cooperate fully with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.

“The DA’s office has asked us to review every case or arrests Icker made to make sure there are no loopholes or inconsistencies,” said the chief.

Now-suspended Ashley officer Mark Icker was hit with a second set of charges late Friday for allegedly forcing a woman into oral sex after pulling her over late Dec. 2. Icker has been jailed for lack of $1 million cash bail. He had been free after similar accusations were leveled against him in a case filed Thursday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Mark-Icker-cop-1-1-6.jpg.optimal.jpgNow-suspended Ashley officer Mark Icker was hit with a second set of charges late Friday for allegedly forcing a woman into oral sex after pulling her over late Dec. 2. Icker has been jailed for lack of $1 million cash bail. He had been free after similar accusations were leveled against him in a case filed Thursday.
Cop jailed on $1M bail after second woman comes forward

By Michael Reich

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Dan Stokes

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