A black woman could face charges for falsely accusing a state trooper of sexual assault who had arrested her for drunk driving, Texas authorities said.
Sherita Dixon-Cole, 37, of Grapevine, Texas, was stopped in her white Chevrolet Malibu early morning last 20 May by Texas Department of Public Safety officer Daniel Hubbard, who said in an affidavit that her driving was "erratic and unsafe for the roadway" and it took "several miles" to pull over the vehicle. Hubbard said he administered multiple field sobriety tests and found what he believes was vodka in two open containers in the backseat and a cup in the driver's seat of Dixon-Cole's car.
Hubbard then arrested Dixon-Cole for driving while intoxicated and transported her to Ellis County Jail in Waxahachie, Texas, according to the affidavit obtained by ABC News.
The following day, Dallas-based civil rights attorney Lee Merritt released a statement revealing Dixon-Cole's startling allegations. She claimed Hubbard repeatedly told her she could be released in exchange for sexual favors. When she told him no, she claimed the highway patrol trooper sexually assaulted her outside and inside of his police cruiser during a prolonged arrest, Merritt said in the statement last 21 May.
Dixon-Cole was released from jail on the night she was arrested after her family posted the required bond, according to Merritt.
Her story was quickly picked up by multiple news outlets and widely shared on social media.
In response to her claims, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it immediately checked footage from the trooper's dashboard and body cameras and then presented the video to the Ellis County and District Attorney's Office for review. On Tuesday, they released nearly two hours of video captured by Hubbard's body camera that contradicts Dixon-Cole's allegations.
"Following the arrest, spurious and false accusations related to this traffic stop were made against the Texas trooper," the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement. "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."
After watching the video, Ellis County and District Attorney Patrick Wilson said, "What happened to that officer is a shame."
"I see an officer who conducts himself exactly as society demands police conduct themselves today: Beyond reproach," Wilson told ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas. "Tragically, that officer still was publicly and maliciously persecuted."
Wilson said there was "no apparent motive" for the claims against the trooper, and he's "flabbergasted" as to how the story came out. He said his office is "investigating the possibility" of charges against Dixon-Cole.
Sherita Dixon-Cole, 37, of Grapevine, Texas, was stopped in her white Chevrolet Malibu early morning last 20 May by Texas Department of Public Safety officer Daniel Hubbard, who said in an affidavit that her driving was "erratic and unsafe for the roadway" and it took "several miles" to pull over the vehicle. Hubbard said he administered multiple field sobriety tests and found what he believes was vodka in two open containers in the backseat and a cup in the driver's seat of Dixon-Cole's car.
Hubbard then arrested Dixon-Cole for driving while intoxicated and transported her to Ellis County Jail in Waxahachie, Texas, according to the affidavit obtained by ABC News.
The following day, Dallas-based civil rights attorney Lee Merritt released a statement revealing Dixon-Cole's startling allegations. She claimed Hubbard repeatedly told her she could be released in exchange for sexual favors. When she told him no, she claimed the highway patrol trooper sexually assaulted her outside and inside of his police cruiser during a prolonged arrest, Merritt said in the statement last 21 May.
Dixon-Cole was released from jail on the night she was arrested after her family posted the required bond, according to Merritt.
Her story was quickly picked up by multiple news outlets and widely shared on social media.
In response to her claims, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it immediately checked footage from the trooper's dashboard and body cameras and then presented the video to the Ellis County and District Attorney's Office for review. On Tuesday, they released nearly two hours of video captured by Hubbard's body camera that contradicts Dixon-Cole's allegations.
"Following the arrest, spurious and false accusations related to this traffic stop were made against the Texas trooper," the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement. "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."
After watching the video, Ellis County and District Attorney Patrick Wilson said, "What happened to that officer is a shame."
"I see an officer who conducts himself exactly as society demands police conduct themselves today: Beyond reproach," Wilson told ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas. "Tragically, that officer still was publicly and maliciously persecuted."
Wilson said there was "no apparent motive" for the claims against the trooper, and he's "flabbergasted" as to how the story came out. He said his office is "investigating the possibility" of charges against Dixon-Cole.