Picture of Officer William Archer

[WaTcHeR]

Officer William Archer

09.14.2006 - HOUSTON - A Houston police officer is in trouble, accused of stepping outside the law he is supposed to uphold. We've learned the officer was arrested after a woman came forward, claiming he offered to let her go during a traffic stop if she performed a sex act.

The woman, who now claims she's a victim, first gave her statement to HPD internal affairs. In it, she said she was driving down Mykawa near Hobby Airport when Officer William Archer pulled her over for speeding. After running her plates, he found outstanding traffic warrants and said he didn't have to arrest her. Then the 36-year-old woman told the officer she'd take care of those warrants.

"He told her that's not what he had in mind and she said, 'You're talking sex.' And he said, 'Well, you've got to say that. I can't say that'," said Harris County Assistant DA Warren Diepraam.

The DA's office says the conversation led to sex acts inside the police cruiser.

"She's in the back of a patrol car. She's under arrest. The officer has a gun, a uniform and he has complete and total control over her," said Diepraam.

The alleged victim went to internal affairs. Prosecutors say she preserved some of the evidence from the scene and tests found that evidence on her clothing and in the seat of the police car. They are waiting for DNA tests to see if they can link it all to Archer.

Eyewitness News tried to contact Officer Archer at his home Monday night, but no one came to the door. His attorney, Brett Ligon with the Houston Police Officers Union, says Archer pleads not guilty.

"Often times, the public needs to know that a lot of times officers are cleared of criminal conduct and unfortunately, sometimes there's enough evidence to proceed on," said Ligon. "But between the DA and PD, every allegation of misconduct is looked at."

If convicted, Archer could be fired from the Houston Police Department and spend up to two years in prison. Archer has been an HPD officer for five years.

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[WaTcHeR]

9/15/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON - The woman who says a Houston police officer encouraged her to offer sex in exchange for her freedom tells her story exclusively to Eyewitness News.

HPD Officer William Archer had to give up his badge and is now charged with improper sexual activity with a person in custody.

The woman says she was telling her story to HPD internal affairs within an hour of the incident. The alleged victim says she was afraid if she didn't give the officer what he wanted, she wouldn't be here today to tell her story.

The 35-year-old alleged victim, who asks we protect her identity, says it started with a strange traffic stop near Hobby airport.

"The way he pulled me over was crazy," she said. "He passed me and saw me by myself, slowed down, and then got behind me."

The mother of four says she wasn't speeding and told the officer she had some outstanding traffic warrants from the beginning. Then the alleged victim claims he put her in the back of the cruiser and then kept telling her she didn't have to go to jail.

"He said, 'I can't tell you. You have to tell me,'" she said. "I said, 'What are you talking about? Sex?' He said, 'yes.'"

The woman claims that next, he drove down a side street and told her to get into the front of the cruiser, then he took off his belt and unzipped his pants.

"He was angry with a smile on his face," said the alleged victim. "That's what terrified me. If you can do this with a smile on your face, what else can you do?"

So as she fought back tears she says she engaged in the sex act.

"I feared if I didn't do it, he would hurt me in some kind of way," she said.

Within about fifteen minutes, the alleged victim says the officer took her back to her car. She says she didn't remember much about his face, but got his name from his uniform and was at internal affairs with evidence on her clothing within hour. Prosecutors have now charged Officer Archer. His attorney disputes the charges.

"We don't have to bring a defense," said attorney Brett Ligon. "The DA has the burden of proof. They've charged him with an offense that if, in fact, sex had occurred, it was somewhat consensual in nature."

But the alleged victim fears she's not alone.

"He was too comfortable with what he did," she said. "He had the towel ready, the water ready. He had everything ready, like he had a plan and he had done this way before."

And says she hopes the officer gets jail time and never does police work again.

"I feel he's a predator just like the rest of them," she said. "He just has a badge on."

Prosecutors in this case are waiting for DNA tests from evidence found in Archer's cruiser and on the alleged victim's clothing. The case must still go before a grand jury.

Archer is out on bond and has a date in court at the end of the month. He's also on paid suspension pending the outcome of the case. If convicted, Archer could be fired from the police department and face up to two years in prison. He maintains he's innocent.

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