The Texas Department of Public Safety said it disputes allegations that one of its state troopers sexually assaulted a woman while he was arresting her on suspicion of drunken driving.
A lawyer representing the woman said Monday that the trooper offered to let her go during a field sobriety test Sunday in exchange for sexual favors. Attorney Lee Merritt said in a statement that his client declined the trooper’s advances and that the trooper then groped her and forced something into her vagina.
Merritt called the arrest “prolonged” and said the assault took place inside and outside the police vehicle.
It’s unclear whether Merritt is pursuing a civil or criminal case or filing a complaint with the department. The claim received attention from bloggers and activists on social media.
The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The Department of Public Safety said it reviewed dashcam video after hearing the allegations and that the recording shows no evidence to support the woman’s claims. The agency said it would forward the video to the Ellis County prosecutor for review.
The Department of Public Safety did not return a voicemail seeking comment.
Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson’s office also did not return a voicemail seeking comment.
Ellis County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Joe Fitzgerald said she was booked into the county jail at 4:58 a.m. Sunday and has been released on bail. Fitzgerald said she was taken to a local hospital after reporting she was assaulted.
Topics Texas
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