HOUSTON – The suspect in a Friday evening sexual assault at a parking garage at the University of Houston is wanted despite the university announcing he had been arrested on Saturday.
The Assault
Eric Latroy Brown, 40, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of aggravated robbery after a student was attacked around 5:30 p.m. last Friday. According to court records, a 21-year-old woman was approached by a suspect, identified as Brown, as she cleaned trash out of her car on the second floor of the Welcome Center Student Parking Garage on Wheeler Ave.
Brown approached her and asked for a pen, according to the records. When the woman replied she didn’t have one, Brown allegedly pushed her into her car and threatened her with a knife. At that point, Brown allegedly sexually assaulted her. He then stole $30 from the woman before fleeing, according to court records.
The Investigation
Later that night, officers patrolling the garage approached who they thought was the suspect, when Brown became aggressive and a struggled ensued. He had to be Tased. They identified him as the suspect in the sexual assault based on surveillance video and his tattoos as described by the victim, according to records.
The Arrest and Release
On Feb. 8, the University of Houston Police Department announced a person who matched the description of the suspect in the sexual assault was in custody. However, as it turns out, he got released from the Harris County Jail on Saturday.
KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry reached out to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which confirmed University of Houston Police detained Brown on an unrelated charge of resisting arrest and assault of a public servant, but those charges were ultimately declined for lack of sufficient evidence.
The Delay in Filing Charges
Records show Brown was taken to the Harris County Jail at 8:41 a.m. on Saturday, where he was on an investigative hold, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. It’s unclear if the sexual assault and robbery charges stemming from Friday night were presented to the DA’s office at that time, and the University of Houston has not been able to answer that question.
The district attorney’s office also said when Brown was arrested for assault of a public servant and resisting arrest, there was a shift change and a second intake prosecutor came in, who declined charges based on insufficient evidence. Brown was then released later Saturday, and for some unknown reason, charges in the parking garage attack didn’t get filed and accepted until Wednesday morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened during the sexual assault?
A: The suspect, identified as Eric Latroy Brown, approached the victim and asked for a pen. When she replied she didn’t have one, he allegedly pushed her into her car and threatened her with a knife, and then sexually assaulted her.
Q: What happened after the assault?
A: Brown then stole $30 from the victim before fleeing the scene.
Q: How was the suspect apprehended?
A: Officers patrolling the garage approached who they thought was the suspect, and a struggled ensued. He had to be Tased and was identified as the suspect in the sexual assault based on surveillance video and his tattoos as described by the victim.
Q: Why was the suspect released from jail?
A: Brown was released from the Harris County Jail on Saturday due to a delay in filing charges.
Q: What is the current status of the case?
A: The suspect, Eric Latroy Brown, is wanted and is currently on the run. If you have seen him, you are urged to call police immediately.
