HOUSTON, TX – A sergeant from the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office is under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that he sexually harassed a teenager during several traffic stops. Sergeant Austin Erbina is now facing multiple misdemeanor charges, including unlawful detainment.
Authorities allege that Erbina misused police resources, utilizing a software system to track down license plates in a parking lot, aiming to discover the home address of a 17-year-old barista. The FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety are currently involved, confirming the misuse of the precinct’s database.
When reporters visited Erbina’s residence, there was no response. The sergeant, an eight-year veteran of the department, was sworn in by former Constable May Walker. Records indicate that in 2023, Erbina frequented a Starbucks near Beltway 8, where he began conversing with the teenager. During their interactions, he reportedly mentioned he would search for her using the police system.
Feeling uneasy, the teenager returned to Starbucks instead of going home, confiding in her coworkers about her discomfort. As she eventually left, Erbina allegedly pulled her over again. During the stop, he requested her Snapchat and remarked, “Just remember, you turn 18 in three weeks.”
The following week, the teenager reported another encounter with Erbina, this time near the Brunswick Lakes Community Waterpark. She questioned why his body camera wasn’t activated, to which he allegedly replied it wasn’t necessary as he wasn’t conducting a traffic stop, merely seeking a conversation.
Houston Police Department’s special investigations unit has since taken on the case. Their investigation includes reviewing surveillance footage from the Starbucks and a nearby gas station. Detectives have also interviewed individuals the teenager contacted during the incidents.
Sergeant Erbina is set to appear in court soon, as the investigation continues to unfold.