Post by WaTcHeR on Jun 22, 2006 13:14:02 GMT -5
06.21.2006 - Former Sugar Land Police Officer Michael Zimmerhanzel has been indicted on two charges after being accused of making "physical and sexual advances" on a woman who'd asked for a ride to her vehicle.
According to a prepared statement by the Sugar Land Police Department, a Fort Bend County grand jury returned one indictment against Zimmerhanzel on a charge of official oppression, and another on a charge of abuse of official capacity.
However, Zimmerhanzel has not been arrested and remains free, his attorney, Don Bankston, said Tuesday.
"The police department has overshot their boundaries by issuing a press release," Bankston said, "because I don't think the indictments have been unsealed."
Bankston said he has been made aware of the charges, however, and said Zimmerhanzel likely will turn himself in to law enforcement officials Wednesday.
But, "my client said it didn't happen," Bankston said. "He denies it and cooperated with the grand jury."
Sugar Land Police Chief Steve Griffith said the charges stem from a July 2005 incident in which Zimmerhanzel "had gone to a bar here in Sugar Land and did a bar check."
While in the bar, a patron asked him for a ride to her car, because she'd come to the bar with a couple of other people with whom she did not want to leave, Griffith said.
Zimmerhanzel drove her to her car in a private driveway, at which point "the incident occurred." A second incident occurred a short time later when Zimmerhanzel pulled the woman over to "talk," Griffith said.
After talking it over with her family, the woman decided to file a formal complaint in February alleging Zimmerhanzel made the "advances" on her. Griffith said of the advances "there was no sexual assault," however, an administrative police review determined the incident "was criminal in nature," the police department statement says.
Bankston said the official oppression charge is a misdemeanor, and the grand jury issued the abuse of official capacity as a felony charge. Bond has been set at $5,000 on the misdemeanor and $15,000 on the felony.
The department placed Zimmerhanzel on administrative leave on Feb. 17.
Sugar Land Detectives and Fort Bend County District Attorney investigators then conducted a criminal investigation, which was completed and presented to a grand jury on April 24.
The department also conducted an administrative investigation and found Zimmerhanzel in violation of city and department policy. "He resigned March 21 prior to the completion of the disciplinary proceedings," the department said in a statement.
"As an agency, we are embarrassed by the conduct of this former employee," said Griffith said. "His behavior is not reflective of our dedicated professionals who take great pride in their service to the citizens of Sugar Land."
According to a prepared statement by the Sugar Land Police Department, a Fort Bend County grand jury returned one indictment against Zimmerhanzel on a charge of official oppression, and another on a charge of abuse of official capacity.
However, Zimmerhanzel has not been arrested and remains free, his attorney, Don Bankston, said Tuesday.
"The police department has overshot their boundaries by issuing a press release," Bankston said, "because I don't think the indictments have been unsealed."
Bankston said he has been made aware of the charges, however, and said Zimmerhanzel likely will turn himself in to law enforcement officials Wednesday.
But, "my client said it didn't happen," Bankston said. "He denies it and cooperated with the grand jury."
Sugar Land Police Chief Steve Griffith said the charges stem from a July 2005 incident in which Zimmerhanzel "had gone to a bar here in Sugar Land and did a bar check."
While in the bar, a patron asked him for a ride to her car, because she'd come to the bar with a couple of other people with whom she did not want to leave, Griffith said.
Zimmerhanzel drove her to her car in a private driveway, at which point "the incident occurred." A second incident occurred a short time later when Zimmerhanzel pulled the woman over to "talk," Griffith said.
After talking it over with her family, the woman decided to file a formal complaint in February alleging Zimmerhanzel made the "advances" on her. Griffith said of the advances "there was no sexual assault," however, an administrative police review determined the incident "was criminal in nature," the police department statement says.
Bankston said the official oppression charge is a misdemeanor, and the grand jury issued the abuse of official capacity as a felony charge. Bond has been set at $5,000 on the misdemeanor and $15,000 on the felony.
The department placed Zimmerhanzel on administrative leave on Feb. 17.
Sugar Land Detectives and Fort Bend County District Attorney investigators then conducted a criminal investigation, which was completed and presented to a grand jury on April 24.
The department also conducted an administrative investigation and found Zimmerhanzel in violation of city and department policy. "He resigned March 21 prior to the completion of the disciplinary proceedings," the department said in a statement.
"As an agency, we are embarrassed by the conduct of this former employee," said Griffith said. "His behavior is not reflective of our dedicated professionals who take great pride in their service to the citizens of Sugar Land."
