For days, ABC13 has tried to get answers about how, after making an arrest, the suspect from a violent sexual assault incident at the University of Houston was not charged for several days and was able to walk out of jail shortly after he was arrested.
Even University of Houston Clear Lake criminology professor Kimberly Dodson struggled to answer that question.
"This person should still be incarcerated," Dodson said.
On Friday, UH police say a woman was held at knifepoint and sexually assaulted in the welcome center garage. Six hours later, this was heard on police radio.
"Can I get a supervisor out here at the Metrorail," the person said over the radio. "I think I have the individual from earlier."
Officers arrested Eric Brown. They say he resisted, and they used a taser.
The district attorney's office said it was made aware of Brown resisting arrest and attacking a peace officer.
It later declined those charges, and Brown was released hours later. ABC13 has asked U of H if officers made prosecutors aware of the sexual assault after their arrest on Friday. We finally got an answer.
"The University of Houston Police Department confirms that the probable cause for the arrest of the individual taken into custody Friday, Feb. 7, was the sexual assault charge. This information was disclosed to the District Attorney's office. The additional charges would not have existed or been presented but for the apprehension of the suspect for the sexual assault," a university spokesperson said.
On Thursday night, the DA's office released the following statement:
"The DA's office started working on charges Tuesday, and court records show a warrant was issued the next day.
The prosecutors at the Harris County District Attorney's Intake Division were not initially presented charges regarding sexual assault, though there was mention that the defendant could possibly be a suspect. After the initial discussion with law enforcement, charges were filed for assault of a public servant and resisting arrest. Upon further review, those charges were declined.
Afterwards, members of the HCDAO Adult Sexual Assault Division contacted law enforcement to determine the status of the sexual assault investigation, and the decision was made by our prosecutors to file a charge of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery.
We are actively working with law enforcement to ensure that this violent offender is arrested for these allegations, and the decision to decline the two initial charges is under review by leadership at the Intake Division."
Dodson said if officers told prosecutors about the resisting arrest incident, they should've had questions.
"That would be a red flag to me, 'Oh, this guy's only being booked for resisting arrest.' What happened?" Dodson said.
UH recently asked other agencies for help assisting with crimes, including HPD. They don't say, however, which cases or how the different agencies are assisting.
A spokesperson said the officer handling Friday's sexual assault had extensive experience. However, the campus police agency doesn't handle many violent rape cases.
State data shows the UHPD investigated 13 sexual offenses last year. HPD investigated more than 2,400.
"Smaller agencies typically do not have the resources," Dodson explained. "They don't have a crime lab. They don't have connections with people who might be crime technicians."
UH said it not only told prosecutors they had the sexual assault suspect, but students too. Saturday morning, it sent out a release saying they arrested a suspect, and now he's on the streets, and they don't know where he is.
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