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UH campus security: Rape suspect Eric Brown in custody

Eric Brown, 40, was arrested round 3 p.m. Tuesday after a civilian noticed him on METRORail, the DA’s workplace mentioned.

HOUSTON — Hours after regulation enforcement officers in Houston introduced a $5,000 reward for info resulting in the arrest of the College of Houston rape suspect, we have discovered he has been captured.

The U.S. Marshals Service’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Process Drive confirmed that Eric Brown was captured Tuesday afternoon simply earlier than 3 p.m. in downtown Houston. 

In response to METRO, cops monitoring surveillance cameras noticed Brown strolling on gentle rail tracks and he was arrested on the EaDo platform on Texas Avenue at St. Emanuel Avenue. A photograph launched by the Harris County District Legal professional’s Workplace reveals a METRO police officer lifting Brown’s shirt to indicate a big chest tattoo matching the outline given by the UH pupil who says he raped her at knifepoint.

Brown is charged with aggravated sexual assault and aggravated theft with a lethal weapon in reference to the Feb. 7 assault in a UH parking storage. He was arrested lower than 4 miles away from the campus.

Earlier in the present day, regulation enforcement launched new particulars concerning the suspect. Harris County District Legal professional Sean Teare mentioned they’d obtained ideas from individuals who mentioned they’d seen Brown using METRORail close to the UH campus.

“It’s the College of Houston space, that a part of city, a number of METRO rails, that’s how we consider he’s touring in probably the most half,” Teare mentioned. “We’ve got reviews of various libraries in that space that he’s frequented earlier than and after.”

Earlier report

Brown was beforehand arrested in the identical parking storage the place the assault occurred for allegedly assaulting cops after they tried to query him. He was launched hours later for lack of proof. 

Per week later, Teare blamed a damaged system that led to communication points between UH and his workplace and mentioned they’re working to make sure it does not occur once more.

On Tuesday, UH Police Chief Ceasar Moore answered questions for the primary time and defended his division’s response saying his officers did a “stellar job.”

“Clearly, there might have been higher communication. I believe it is a communication problem, timing problem, shift change points, you already know, I, I believe loads of issues got here into play,” Moore mentioned. “However the backside line, it was a communication problem which resulted in that.”

Moore mentioned the police division wasn’t concerned within the assertion from UH on the morning after the assault that mentioned a suspect was in custody regardless that he’d been let loose.

College students demand transparency

Issues over campus security at UH have intensified following a string of violent crimes, together with the sexual assault and a number of armed robberies. College students have held protests demanding extra safety measures, whereas elected officers at the moment are getting concerned.

State Rep. Jolanda Jones mentioned she has been in discussions with UH management about potential options and can host a city corridor on Feb. 21 at Emancipation Park to listen to immediately from college students. The UH Scholar Authorities Affiliation and Black Scholar Union are anticipated to attend.

“The scholars have instructed me there isn’t any transparency, they’ve requested questions,” Jones mentioned. “The varsity instructed me issues they’ve executed, however there are specifics I wish to know. What does elevated campus safety appear to be?”

College officers have said they’re rising patrols and safety guards and have accelerated an ongoing $18 million campus lighting challenge. Some college students say the extra safety measures must be everlasting.

“It’s anticipated they’ll convey out police and up safety, I hope it sticks round,” UH pupil Emily Nguyen mentioned.

UH has pledged to strengthen its coordination with the DA’s workplace and native regulation enforcement businesses. 

‘He put a knife to my neck and raped me’

Courtroom paperwork say the 21-year-old sufferer was frantic when she flagged down an officer to inform him concerning the assault round 5:50 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, on the second flooring of the Welcome Middle Scholar Parking Storage on Wheeler Avenue.

She mentioned she was cleansing trash out of her automotive and preparing for a sorority occasion when Brown approached her and requested to borrow a pen. She instructed him she did not have one. 

“He pushed me in my automotive, he is acquired my mail, and he put a knife to my neck and raped me,” the lady mentioned.

She mentioned he pressed the knife into her “jugular” in the course of the assault and instructed her if she made a sound the knife would go inside her.

After the assault, the sufferer mentioned Brown grabbed her mail, stole $30 in money and fled, in line with courtroom paperwork.

She was in a position to present police with an in depth description of her attacker and drew an image of a giant tattoo on his chest that included phrases and logos.

The sufferer underwent a rape examination the place the nurse at Memorial Hermann noticed accidents and bleeding, in line with courtroom paperwork. 

Investigators seen surveillance movies that did not seize the assault however they confirmed a person matching the sufferer’s description close to her automotive.

About an hour after the assault, the College of Houston Police Division issued an alert

Officers injured throughout battle with Brown

Hours later, two officers on patrol within the storage approached Brown and mentioned he turned aggressive and began yelling after they tried to query him. These officers had been apparently unaware that he matched the outline of the intercourse assault suspect and it isn’t clear why they had been questioning Brown. 

Officers mentioned Brown refused to get on the ground and moved towards them in order that they Tased him. One other UHPD officer and safety guard tried to assist detain Brown and each had been injured throughout a battle that lasted for a number of minutes, in line with courtroom paperwork.

Brown was arrested for assault of a public servant and resisting arrest. 

In response to courtroom paperwork, he was carrying the identical garments and had a big tattoo on his chest that matched the sufferer’s description and drawing. Additionally they discovered a knife in his pocket, courtroom paperwork say.

By the point UHPD linked the 2 crimes, he’d already been launched. They refused to reply questions concerning the case and the chief did not remark till Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Brown has an extended rap sheet relationship again to 2002, courtroom information present. The newest conviction was in 2019 for aggravated assault on a member of the family. Brown spent 30 days within the Harris County Jail after pleading responsible. The sooner crimes had been largely for marijuana possession and legal trespass. 




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