HOUSTON – The search for a man wanted for sexual assault at the University of Houston has now gone on for more than 10 days.
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As the hunt for Eric Latroy Brown, 40, continues, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare held a joint news conference with Crime Stoppers Houston and UH Police Chief Ceaser Moore Tuesday and announced a $5,000 reward for any information leading to his capture.
WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW:
Investigators said Brown approached a 21-year-old student, forced her into her car at UH’s Welcome Center Parking Garage, and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. He was arrested later that night after UHPD officers encountered him acting erratically in the same parking garage. That’s when officials said Brown got aggressive and had to be tased before he was arrested on charges of assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest.
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The Harris Co. District Attorney’s Office said Brown was mistakenly released from jail just 24 hours after the attack. For 10 days now, he has been on the run.
Brown is currently facing three felony charges and Teare noted during the news conference he is unhoused but has been known to frequent libraries near the UH campus, so asked everyone to keep their eyes peeled.
“If anyone is riding the Metro Rail, we have information that he’s riding that pretty frequently,” he explained. “Libraries—he is frequenting a number of libraries—anything around those areas and the University of Houston area, keep your eyes open. We also have information that he’s homeless, so the weather coming up is going to be an ally for us. People that are having to go to those shelters need to be vigilant.”
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Additionally, once Brown is captured, Teare intends to have him prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“It is imperative we get this guy off the street,” he said. “We have three first-degree felonies that he’s charged with. Each one of those punishable by life in prison.”
Chief Moore with UHPD mirrored the DA’s sentiments noting his officers were working around the clock due to how personal they’re treating this case.
“All of us were at work when he was arrested, I was on the scene,” he explained. “People oftentimes think that the police may not care about a particular case or a specific issue; his case is extraordinarily personal.”
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Teare previously told KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry 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.
Chief Moore, however, agreed with the DA’s statements during Tuesday’s conference citing communication errors.
“I think a lot of things came into play, but the bottom line: it was a communication issue, which resulted in that,” he said.
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Authorities urge anyone with information on Brown’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement by calling Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). In response to this incident and a series of robberies this month, UH has significantly increased campus security personnel.
“We know somebody out there knows where he is,” Andy Kahan, director of Victim Services for Crime Stoppers said. “And the public is our best eyes and ears out there, and we’re asking the public to step up to the plate and do the right thing and help us get this sadistic predator in custody...I’m giving you 5,000 good reasons to reach out.”