LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Dauphin County man is facing multiple charges stemming from an incident that led to an officer-involved shooting.
Christopher Rivera, 36, from Middletown, has been charged with multiple counts of robbery, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual assault, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
On Aug. 27 at 8:17 p.m., officers with the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at the Calm Spa located at the Penn Town Shopping Center in Manheim.
At the scene, officers entered the front of the business and were approached by two employees of the spa. Officers saw a man, later identified as Rivera, running out the back of the business where he encountered two additional NLCRPD officers.
According to police, Rivera refused to follow multiple police commands to stop, pulled what appeared to be a firearm from his waistband and continued to flee with the firearm.
An officer reportedly fired his weapon and disabled Rivera. He was immediately secured and rendered first aid, according to police.
The victims of the spa reported that after Rivera entered the business, he was told that it was closed. According to the victims, Rivera pulled out what appeared to be a black firearm from his waistband and pointed it at an employee, demanding money.
Police reports state that the employee initially provided ten dollars but after Rivera demanded more, the employee handed over an additional $800 from store proceeds.
Rivera then allegedly instructed both victims to enter a massage room at gunpoint where they were forced to undress.
Rivera then reportedly raped and sexually assaulted both victims.
Detectives viewed video footage which showed Rivera pointing a firearm at both victims and directing them into a massage room as well as Rivera exiting the back door as police entered the front.
Based on the review of video footage in the spa, law enforcement learned of a witness who was reportedly in the business at the time of the robbery. Lancaster County Detectives want to speak with this individual as the witness alerted another citizen of a “robbery” taking place in the business who then called 911.
Detectives are asking this individual to come forward and contact the Lancaster County Detectives at 717-299-8100.
Rivera was arraigned and bail was set at $1,000,000. He remains in the hospital at this time under guard.
The investigation of the officer-involved shooting is continuing as the District Attorney’s Office continues to review additional video footage and conduct interviews.