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PRESS BRIEF
Timothy J. Altomare
Chief of Police
On Monday, April 24, 2017, Anne Arundel County Police Detectives were interviewing
an adult female in reference to a criminal investigation. During the interview, the female stated
in a matter unrelated to her original complaint, that she had been harassed and sexually assaulted
by an Anne Arundel County Police Officer.
The female stated that in November of 2016, a detective assigned to the Eastern District,
identified by the female as Detective Brian Houseman, was assigned to investigate an unrelated
case involving the female. The female stated that in the weeks during and following the
investigation Houseman began making unwanted advances towards her. The female stated that
on one occasion while text messaging the victim, Housemen sent an unwanted picture of his
genitalia. On another occasion, the victim said that she was persuaded by Houseman to have sex
with him after he suggested he could put in a good word for an associate of the victim who
was facing criminal charges.
With this information, the Anne Arundel County Police Departments Sex Offense Unit
launched an immediate investigation into these allegations. Detectives secured and executed
multiple search warrants and discovered additional evidence linking Houseman to these
allegations and other inappropriate and/or criminal activity in three more unrelated incidents.
Detectives found that on April 19, 2017, Houseman contacted a female for the purposes
of soliciting prostitution. Houseman and the female discussed sex acts in exchange for money,
however the two did not meet. The investigation found that this occurred while Houseman was
on duty.
The facts of these four cases were reviewed by the Anne Arundel County States
Attorneys Office and on May 2, 2017 an Application for Statement of Charges was presented to
a District Court Commissioner. The commissioner issued four arrest warrants charging
Houseman with fourth degree sex offense, second degree assault, prostitution (two counts),
Misconduct in Office (four counts), and Extortion by a Government Employee.
In the evening hours of May 2, 2017, Houseman was arrested and taken into custody
without incident. Houseman, a 44 year old male, has been employed with the Anne Arundel
County Police Department for approximately 13 years and was assigned to the Bureau of Patrol
in Eastern District. Since this investigation began, Housemans police powers have been
suspended and he has been assigned administrative duties. He will continue in this status
pending the outcome of the criminal prosecution and internal investigation.
The offenses alleged to have been committed by this officer are a betrayal of the values
of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the policing profession. The men and
women of the Anne Arundel County Police Department work hard to maintain the trust of the
community and will always hold police department employees accountable for any actions that
are inconsistent with providing the highest level of professional law enforcement services.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department urges anyone with information about these
incidents or any other incidents to contact the Anne Arundel County Sex Offense Unit at 410-
222-4732. If people with information wish to remain anonymous they can also contact the Anne
Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.