Veteran cop faces sex assault charges

11:00 PM CDT on Friday, June 22, 2007

By Jeff McShan / 11 News

An HPD officer with the Kingwood Patrol Division is facing charges for allegedly forcing a woman in custody to have sex with him to avoid jail.

The alleged incident occurred on May 17 in the 900 block of Laurel Springs Lane in Kingwood.

Eric M. Dargin, HPD

Court documents say that Officer E. W. Dargin, a 24-year veteran of the force, pulled over a 25-year-old woman who was on her way to her boyfriend’s house.

It was around 2:30 a.m., and the woman told Dargin she thought she had outstanding warrants.

When she asked if she would be going to jail, he allegedly said, “We’ll see …”

The probable cause affidavit, the details of which were too graphic to print, essentially says Dargin threatened to arrest the woman if she didn’t have sex with him.

A DNA test was administered, and the results showed evidence of Dargin’s DNA. When the woman’s boyfriend came to check on her, he said he saw the officer run from her car, get in his patrol car and flee the scene.

An HPD investigation led to the charges of sexual assault and improper sexual activity with a person in custody.

The woman told investigators that she was very afraid. She said she did not want the officer to touch her and “penetrate” her, but that she was scared because he is a Houston police officer.

The HPD Internal Affairs Division is continuing to investigate the incident.

Dargin has been relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

He’s due in court the first week of July.

© 2007 KHOU-TV, L.P.