Lawyer Apologizes for Falsely Accusing Trooper of Rape
KDFW-TV, May 23, 2018
An attorney is apologizing for spreading allegations that a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and arrest in North Texas. The apology came hours after DPS released two hours of the trooper’s body camera video.
Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, a state trooper pulled over 37-year-old Sherita Dixon-Cole on suspicion of drunk driving. She told the trooper she was coming from Downtown Dallas and was heading to her fiancé’s house in Waxahachie. She claimed she only had one drink.
During a field sobriety test, the trooper poured out two bottles of alcohol he found in her back seat. He places her under arrest and asked her to sit in the front seat of his patrol vehicle.
That’s the point when Cole said the trooper offered to let her go in return for sexual favors. However, the exchange is never heard in the body camera video.
Cole also accused the officer of fondling, groping and sexually assaulting her on the way to jail. Those claims were also not supported by the video.
DPS responded to the accusations late Tuesday night by releasing the video in full. {snip}
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“That video clearly shows the world that this trooper conducted himself beyond reproach,” said Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson. “Yet, he still was subject do a very malicious public persecution despite that.”
Not only was the trooper falsely accused identified by name in social media posts, but another unrelated Waco trooper with the same last name was targeted by people believing Cole’s claims. His attorney says he’s endured “substantial harassment and threats” and even had to make a “request for protection.”
Cole’s attorney apologized early Wednesday morning.
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The false allegations spread worldwide when civil rights activist Shaun King, who has nearly 3 million followers on social media, posted on Twitter “claiming these are the facts” about the North Texas woman being sexually assaulted by the trooper during a DWI arrest.
Since the body cam’s release, King removed his initial post making the false accusation. {snip} However, King did not apologize for anything.
The Ellis County District Attorney says he is disgusted by the false claims made against the DPS trooper and adds that Cole could face additional criminal charges for making a false report.
