HOUSTON – The search continues for a suspect in a sexual assault at the University of Houston.
Eric Latroy Brown remains on the run after being mistakenly released from jail just 24 hours after the attack.
The attack happened on Feb. 7 in the University of Houston’s Welcome Center Parking Garage. The suspect approached a 21-year-old female student, forced her into her car, and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. He was arrested later that night after UHPD officers encountered him acting erratically in the same parking garage. He allegedly became aggressive and had to be tazed. He was taken into custody on charges of assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest.
According to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, communication errors led to the oversight, with initial paperwork failing to indicate Brown’s involvement in the sexual assault and robbery cases. This omission resulted in the charges being declined by the reviewing prosecutor. Despite UH Police’s assertion that the sexual assault information was included, discrepancies remain unresolved.
The focus now centers on apprehending Brown. District Attorney Teare confirms a dedicated investigator from his office is actively assisting in the search, utilizing all available resources, including search warrants and grand jury subpoenas.
The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, led by the U.S. Marshals, continues to track Brown, although his current location remains uncertain.
“We’ve got a dedicated investigator from our office who is monitoring and assisting in that. Our Fugitive Apprehension Unit is keeping up and getting whatever they need, be it search warrants, grand jury subpoenas, whatever technological assist we can do on this. It’s a big search,” Teare said. “If all of the breakdowns that we’ve talked about hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t need a search.”
Authorities urge anyone with information on Brown’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. In response to this incident and a series of robberies this month, the University of Houston has significantly increased campus security personnel.