HARRIS COUNTY, Texas -- A Harris County grand jury has indicted a former HCSO deputy for sexual assault and official oppression for an alleged rape last August.
The alleged victim reported the incident to Houston Police immediately and contacted KHOU 11 News to take the unusual and brave step of making her allegation and her name public.
All I want is justice and that s all I can say, Lisa Rodriguez told the day after the incident four months ago.
Prosecutors now identify that deputy as Donald Wayne Tipps. He resigned from the force the day after the allegation was made.
The woman says that Tipps arrived at her Cloverleaf area apartment August 13th to investigate allegations that she had made threatening phone calls to a relative. Rodriguez says she informed the deputy she had an outstanding warrant for assault in Galena Park. Rodgriguez claimed Tipps ushered her into a back bedroom and offered to ignore the warrant if she performed oral sex. The woman s two young daughters and a niece were in the next room.
Now with his indictment official, prosecutors made their own public plea, asking if other women have similar complaints against the former deputy. Rodriguez, at the time of our initial report in August, said neighbors were making similar allegations against Tipps.
I can t say whether there are or aren t (more victims) just generally if there is anybody out there that wishes to come forward we re willing to hear from you, said Assistant District Attorney Lauren Byrne with the Harris County District Attorney s Civil Rights Division. Just if there s anybody out there that has any additional information about deputy Tipps or that may have been a victim of deputy Tipps we would encourage them to come forward and either call our office or Crime Stoppers.
The Crime Stoppers number, where people can leave anonymous information, is 713.222.TIPS.
