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Anne Arundel County officer arrested on charges of assault, prostitution

Posted at 11:03 AM, May 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-03 17:10:29-04

An Anne Arundel County Police officer has been accused of harassing and sexually assaulting a woman.

Police said that in November 2016, Detective Brian Houseman, 44, of the Eastern District was assigned to an unrelated case involving the woman. She said that in the weeks during and after the investigation, Houseman began making unwanted advances.

She told police that Housemen texted an unwanted picture of his genitalia. On another occasion, she was persuaded to have sex with him after he suggested he could “put in a good word” for one of her associates facing criminal charges.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Sex Offense Unit launched an immediate investigation, and discovered evidence linking Houseman to these allegations as well as three more unrelated incidents of inappropriate or criminal activity.

In February, Houseman began texting inappropriate sexual comments after being assigned to investigate a stalking complaint. The texting took place while he was on duty and there was no intimate contact between Houseman and this woman, police said.

Back in March, Houseman contacted a woman to solicit prostitution. Police said he and the woman met in the Brooklyn area of Anne Arundel County where money was exchanged for sex acts. This occurred while Houseman was on duty, according to police.

Police suspect other women may have been victimized, and they're asked to call the Anne Arundel County Sex Offense Unit at 410-222.4732.

On April 19, Houseman contacted another woman soliciting prostitution. The investigation revealed that he and the woman discussed sex acts in exchange for money, while Houseman was on duty, but the two didn’t meet.

Houseman was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, two counts of prostitution, misconduct in office (four counts), and extortion by a government employee.

His police powers have been suspended and he’s been assigned administrative duties, police said.

Houseman has been an officer with the Anne Arundel County Police Department for approximately 13 years.

Anyone with information about these incidents can call thee Anne Arundel County Sex Offense Unit at 410-222-4732 or send anonymous tips to the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.