Police release sketch of suspect in sex assault case after woman was attacked

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men wanted for a sexual assault remain on the run. Police are hoping newly released video of the getaway car and a sketch of one of the suspects can help track them down.

Police say these men are dangerous. They are accused of picking up a woman, sexually assaulting her and then threatening to kill her.

Police have released a sketch of one of the two men they say attacked a woman in a car back on September 23. Surveillance video captured the suspects standing outside of that car during that attack.

Police say earlier that night the 27-year-old woman was walking along a street in north Houston. She had been crying after a fight with her boss when investigators say the men pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and asked her if she wanted a ride. Authorities say the woman got into the car and asked to be dropped off at a downtown bus stop.

But investigators say one of the men began assaulting her in the back seat before the driver pulled over behind a warehouse in the 2100 block of Harrington and police say he assaulted the victim as well.

"We haven't found any related cases with these suspects, but it is a possibility that if they did it to this victim, they'll go out and do it again," said HPD Investigator Jennifer Kennedy. "It was an easy target. They took advantage."

The suspects are described as two Hispanic males. One suspect is in his early 40s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and a medium build. He has dark brown hair, slicked back and tucked behind the ears, brown eyes and black ink tattoos on both arms. He also has one tattoo around one wrist.

The other suspect is in his 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and heavy-set. He has a bald head, dark-rimmed glasses, brown eyes and a tattoo on his upper right arm. He also has a tattoo across his chest, with a curved shaped in Olde English writing.

Surveillance video of both suspects and their vehicle, a dark colored, four-door, possibly 1997 Ford Taurus station wagon, can be viewed here.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Special Crimes Division at 713-308-1100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Crime Tracker »

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Friendswood student attacked while working at night on campus

  FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- Just days before the end of the school year, Friendswood ISD is telling parents about an attack on a high school student on campus.

The girl says she was attacked at the school's agriculture science center about 8:20pm Tuesday. Police say the girl was working in the barn with her brother, tending to some animals, when she went to throw out some trash. She says a man dragged her into some nearby woods, but she was able to get free and escape. The girl did get scratched up.

The student was unable to provide a physical description of the male or a description of a vehicle, according to police officials. The district says it is cooperating with the Friendswood police in the investigation.

A letter was sent home to parents on Wednesday.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Manvel HS basketball coach attacked after game

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A local coach is nursing bruises he received in a fight this weekend after a basketball game. His team was playing an away game at La Marque High School, and when the game was over, witnesses say the coach was confronted by some angry fans.

The score at the buzzer was 60-45, with Manvel High School on top. La Marque players had already left the gym when apparently some angry words from fans turned into punches. Alvin ISD's athetletic director says Manvel's head basketball coach left with a win -- and also a shiner -- under his left eye.

The gym at La Marque High School was empty and quiet Monday night -- a stark contrast to post game Friday night.

"It was pretty, pretty rough," Alvin ISD Athletic Director Mike Bass said.

Manvel High School basketball coach Greg Devers is recovering from being punched in the face. The Mavericks had just beaten the La Marque Cougars handily on their home turf, but Bass says there were no issues.

"The players shook hands, the coaches shook hands. Everything was great," Bass said.

La Marque retired to the locker room. Manvel was waiting in the gym for their bus. The school police officer stepped out and that's when fans jumped the rails.

"He said 'Coach Bass, it happened so fast. One moment talking enjoying the victory,' and then next thing, he said, 'I saw a mother get knocked down. I reached down and I got hit and it's just going everywhere,'" Bass said.

Luckily, Coach Devers was the one only hurt.

"It looked like it was a left hook from Mike Tyson, I mean he really took a pretty good shiner on him and it swelled him up pretty good, but he's going to be OK," Bass said.

The situation, Bass says, was quickly contained and now both schools are working hard to determine who was involved. La Marque ISD Superintendent Monday night issued the following statement:

"As a district, we don't tolerate that from our fans or students. We are conducting a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of it. Once we know all the particulars, we will administer discipline accordingly."

La Marque and Manvel are rivals. In the last two seasons, each took turns knocking the other out of the football playoffs.

Bass says the competition has been healthy. When they meet again on the court at Manvel High School next month, though, there will likely be extra security, he says, to prevent anymore more punches.

"Those folks need to be held accountable for their actions," Bass said.

And that's exactly what La Marque's superintendent and athletic director say they're working toward. They don't think any players were involved, but if students were, they will be disciplined.

Non-students will be referred to the police department. And La Marque ISD is adding more officers on game nights.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Boy attacked by pit bulls improving; dogs euthanized

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on a young Crosby boy attacked by two pit bulls.

The boy's mother says her son is showing some improvement. Mario Lopez, 10, was seriously injured when the two dogs attacked him two weeks ago as he rode his bicycle through the neighborhood. The pit bulls bit him all over his body. His mother says with some help, Mario can now walk around a little and is able to spend time outside. We're told on Monday Harris County Animal Control euthanized the pit bulls. Their owners are facing criminal charges. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Owners of dogs that attacked boy appear in court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A young boy is still recovering after a vicious attack by two dogs late last month. The dog owners went before a judge today to plead on behalf of themselves and their dogs.

Those dog owners face charges in connection with the attack that left a 10-year-old boy hospitalized. After emergency surgery, the boy is expected to make a full recovery.

The owners claim it wasn't their fault the dogs got out.

The two dogs in question are pit bull mixes, about 3-4 years old. Their owners, Michael Haynes and Kimberly Shepherd, are accused of failing to secure those dogs properly, leaving them to get loose and attack Mario Lopez back on June 30, causing serious bodily injury.

Haynes and Shepherd say they weren't at their Crosby home at the time of the incident. Witnesses say Lopez was riding his bike in the neighborhood and did not provoke the attack.

Hayes and Shepherd face between 2 and 10 years in prison if convicted. Their defense attorneys says they really thought their dogs were secured and feel terrible about the boy's injuries.

"They're as devastated as anybody over this," said defense attorney Michael Turner. "They have a child of their own. Their concern right now is with the welfare of that young boy who was injured and they thought they had done everything they possibly could have to secure these dogs."

"There were injuries to the face, arms and legs," said prosecutor Belinda Smith. "There was muscle tearing and severe lacerations."

Right now, those two dogs are quarantined in the care of the Harris County Animal Control. It'll now be up to the Harris County Attorney's Office what happens to them.

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