Ellis County, Texas (WBAP/KLIF) – An attorny for a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by a DPS Trooper inside his patrol vehicle has apologized, in the wake of the release of DPS dashcam footage of the incident.
The Texas Department of Transportation confirms that the woman, identified at 37-year old Sharita Dixon-Cole was initially stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated around 1:30AM Sunday, May 20th. Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Hubbard observed a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu traveling south on Interstate 35 in Ellis County near U.S. 287. After a field sobriety test, she was arrested and placed in the front seat of the trooper’s service vehicle.
It is inside the vehicle where Dixon-Cole claims the trooper placed his hand on her thigh, hiked up her skirt and penetrated her privates. In a Facebook post, which has since been removed by activist Shaun King on Monday, he detailed a number of other lurid accusations made by Dixon-Cole.
DPS officials say that after learning of the allegations, they immediately reviewed dashcam video and found the claims to be unsubstantiated.
A statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety reads in part:
Following the arrest, spurious and false accusations related to this traffic stop were made against the Texas Trooper. Upon learning of those allegations, the Texas Department of Public Safety immediately took action to review the video in connection with this traffic stop and arrest. The video shows absolutely no evidence to support the egregious and unsubstantiated accusations against the Trooper during the DWI arrest of the suspect. The Department is appalled that anyone would make such a despicable, slanderous and false accusation against a peace officer who willingly risks his life every day to protect and serve the public.
Meantime, Lee Merritt, the attorney for the accuser released a statement following the release of the video. He says the “footage directly conflicts with accounts of the incident reported to his office.” He further stated that it is deeply troubling with innocent parties are falsely accused. He apologized to the trooper and said that based on the video, he should be “cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Full DPS dashcam footage of traffic stop of Sherita Dixon-Cole:
Below is the full statement released by Dixon-Cole’s attorney, Lee Merritt:
Press Release concerning released body-cam footage by Texas DPS pic.twitter.com/ExpbgmJEH5
— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) May 23, 2018
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