Officer Darryl Sullivan Arrested Sexual Assault

[WaTcHeR]

03/03/2006 - A Plano police officer is behind bars on charges that allege he sexually assaulted a teenage girl, McKinney police officials said.

39-year-old Darryl Gregory Sullivan was arrested Wednesday on an arrest warrant signed by 219th District Court Judge Curt Henderson for the aggravated sexual assault of a female teenager who's identity was not released, McKinney Police Capt. Randy Roland said in a released statement.

The McKinney Police Department started their investigation into the matter on Tuesday after the victim and her family reported the incident to Trinity Presbyterian Church who reported the incident to the McKinney PD, Pastor Patrick McCoy said.

“In a time of crisis, people often come to the church for support and we were there to support the family in this difficult time,” McCoy said. “Our prayers are with the family and all victims of abuse.”

The McKinney PD launched their investigation into the matter and also contacted the Collin County Child Advocacy Center, Child Protective Services and the Plano Police Department for assistance, according to the released statement.

Roland said investigators called Sullivan and asked him to come to the McKinney Police Station for an interview on Wednesday where he was later arrested.

Roland said the victim was a relative of Sullivan and in her teenage years. Due to the age of the victim, the McKinney PD did not release any information that would have revealed the victim's identity or the nature of the assault.

Sullivan was later transferred to the Collin County Detention Center where he received a first degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault and a $25,000 bond. As of Wednesday evening, he has not been released.

Plano Police Officer Carl Duke said Sullivan has been a member of the Plano Police Department for 14 years and has also worked as a training officer with the Tri-City Police Academy for the last nine years.

Duke said the Plano PD were first made aware of McKinney's investigation Tuesday night, and said Sullivan would be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We have been in contact with the McKinney Police Department throughout the day,” Duke said. “This charge and their investigation really has nothing to do with his employment as a police officer, but we will assist the McKinney Police Department and their investigation in anyway that we can.”

[KC]

Officer Darryl Gregory Sullivan

June 16, 2006 - Former Plano police officer Darryl Gregory Sullivan was indicted by a Collin County grand jury on Wednesday on charges of sexual assault of minor.

Officer Sullivan, 39, was arrested on March 1 on a warrant signed by 219th District Court Judge Curt Henderson for the aggravated sexual assault of a female teenager whose identity was not released, said Capt. Randy Roland, McKinney police spokesperson.

Though the minor's identity is being withheld, reports say that she might have been a family member.

"Statistics tell us that 96 percent of children are victimized by people that they know and about 80 percent are victimized by a family member," said Jane Donovan, community educator for the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center.

Donovan concluded that since most perpetrators of this crime are known, other measures must be taken to ensure the safety of minors.

"So when we talk about teaching our children about stranger danger it's a valuable lesson but strangers constitute less than four percent," she said. "Even more important than sharing information about stranger danger is information about their personal and private boundaries."

The victim and her immediate family reported the incident to Trinity Presbyterian Church officials, who reported the incident to the McKinney police, Pastor Patrick McCoy said.

"In a time of crisis, people often come to the church for support and we were there to support the family in this difficult time," McCoy said in a previous interview. "Our prayers are with the family and all victims of abuse."

The ability to report such a life-altering incident is a brave act, says Donovan.

"It takes an unbelievable amount of courage that I would hope that every child would have but it's the hardest thing in the world to come forth and offer information that will disrupt your family," she said. "It always takes a tremendous about of courage."

According to police reports, Sullivan told McKinney authorities that he had never had sex with the victim, who was 13 years old at the time, but repeatedly touched her all over.

McKinney police launched their investigation into the matter and also contacted the Collin County Child Advocacy Center, Child Protective Services and the Plano Police Department for assistance, according to a released statement.



Roland said investigators called Sullivan and asked him to come to the McKinney police station for an interview. He was later arrested.

Sullivan was later transferred to the Collin County Detention Center. He was released on $25,000 bond the same day. He also resigned from his Plano post that day.

Sullivan, still out on bail, is scheduled to appear before Judge Chris Oldner on June 27. According to state penal codes, Sullivan could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if he is convicted of the second-degree felony.