A Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office sergeant, Austin Erbina, is currently under scrutiny following accusations of sexually harassing a teenager during multiple traffic stops. Erbina is now facing a series of misdemeanor charges, including unlawful detainment.
The authorities have alleged that Erbina misused police resources by utilizing a software system to track license plates in a parking lot. His purported objective was to discover the home address of a 17-year-old barista. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety are participating in the investigation, confirming the misuse of the precinct’s database.
Erbina, who has served in the department for eight years, was sworn in by former Constable May Walker. Records from 2023 indicate that Erbina frequently visited a Starbucks near Beltway 8, where he began interacting with the teenager. During their interactions, he is said to have mentioned that he would use the police system to find her location.
The teenager, feeling uneasy, chose to return to Starbucks instead of going home and expressed her worries to her coworkers. As she eventually left, Erbina is alleged to have stopped her again. During the stop, he is said to have asked for her Snapchat and made a remark about her turning 18 in three weeks.
The following week, the teenager reported another encounter with Erbina, this time near the Brunswick Lakes Community Waterpark. She questioned why his body camera was not activated, to which he is alleged to have replied that it was not necessary as he was not conducting a traffic stop, but merely wanted to converse.
The Houston Police Department’s special investigations unit has since assumed control of the case. Their investigation includes examining surveillance footage from the Starbucks and a nearby gas station. Detectives have also interviewed individuals the teenager contacted during the incidents.
Erbina is expected to appear in court in the near future as the investigation continues.