Arlington police officer arrested on sexual assault, official oppression charges
An Arlington police officer was arrested Friday on charges of sexual assault and official oppression after investigators alleged he returned multiple times to a woman’s home while on duty after first encountering her during an earlier call for service.
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Officer Derreck Dean, 36, was taken into custody by members of the Arlington Police Department’s Fugitive Unit and transported to the Tarrant County Jail, police said.
According to the department, Arlington police opened simultaneous criminal and administrative investigations April 18 after receiving a report alleging Dean had sexual contact with a woman he first encountered while responding to a call at her home days earlier.
Investigators said Dean initially responded to a call for service at the woman’s residence April 11.
Between the morning of April 17 and the early hours of April 18, Dean returned to the woman’s home three separate times while on duty, according to police. Authorities said none of the visits were related to calls for service and that the alleged sexual contact occurred during one of those visits.
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Police said a review of Dean’s body-worn camera footage showed the camera was covered during all three visits.
Following the investigation and consultation with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the department obtained warrants charging Dean with one count of official oppression and one count of sexual assault.
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Under Texas law, official oppression occurs when a public servant acting under their office or employment intentionally subjects another person to mistreatment, unlawful arrest, detention, search, seizure, sexual harassment or denial of rights while knowing the conduct is unlawful.
Dean was placed on administrative leave April 21, which police said was his next scheduled shift. He remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of the department’s internal investigation.
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Police said Dean has been employed by the department since 2016.
“The department takes this matter extremely seriously and is currently looking into whether any other instances of misconduct may have occurred,” the department said in a statement.
Anyone with additional information or allegations involving Dean is asked to contact detective Donalson at 817-459-5632.
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