By David Lohr
Harris County Sheriff's Office
A Texas patrol deputy was
arrested Wednesday during an undercover prostitution sting being conducted by
his own agency.
Emmanuel Augustine, 29, a
five-year veteran with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, has
been charged with solicitation of prostitution. The charge stems from a joint
sting operation conducted by the constable's office and the Harris County
Sheriff's Office, authorities said.
Augustine allegedly approached
an undercover female officer early Wednesday morning by Imperial Valley.
Authorities say he offered to pay the female officer $10 for a sex act.
Augustine, who was off-duty at
the time of the alleged incident, was partially dressed in his uniform, police
said.
"Following his
identification, the administration was notified and responded to the arrest
location," the constable's office said in a press release. "[He] was
placed on immediate administrative suspension without pay pending an
investigation into the incident."
For Augustine's safety, he was
kept separate from other suspects while awaiting a probable cause court hearing
late Wednesday. He was ultimately issued a citation and released on his own
recognizance. If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Augustine will face up to
180 days in jail and or a fine of up to $2,000.
