Fort Worth police officer arrested for official oppression after assaulting female

by PegNews wire

Officer Murrah allegedly "slapped the buttocks" of a bare-bottomed 18-year-old female after he found her and a companion "engaging in sexual conduct" inside their vehicle.

FORT WORTH — On Friday, June 22, 2007, at approximately 1 a.m., a Fort Worth Police officer found a couple engaging in sexual conduct inside of a vehicle in Oakhurst Park, located at 2300 Daisy Lane on the city’s north side. The officer directed the couple out of the vehicle. The 18-year-old female victim, nude from the waist down, exited the car and the officer placed her into the back of his patrol car. At some time during his investigation, the officer is alleged to have slapped the female’s buttocks. After striking the female, the officer let the couple go with what the victim described as “a warning.”

The female got back into the couple’s car and told her boyfriend what had occurred. That male immediately contacted Fort Worth Police 9-1-1 and notified them of what had happened. A supervisor telephoned the couple and gathered their information about the incident. The entire matter was turned over to Internal Affairs, and a criminal investigation determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the allegations made by the victim and an arrest warrant was issued.

On Wednesday, August 22, 2007, Fort Worth Police arrested Officer Craig Murrah, ID #3280, on a charge of Official Oppression. The 37-year-old officer has been employed with the Fort Worth Police Department since 2001 and was assigned to the department’s North Patrol Division at the time of this incident. If convicted of this Class A misdemeanor crime, the officer could face a maximum punishment of up to 2 years in the county jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or a combination of both.

The officer is currently on restricted duty, pending the Tarrant County District Attorney’s review of the case. If an indictment or information is returned, the officer may be placed on Temporary Suspension without pay, pending the outcome and disposition of this criminal matter. Upon the conclusion of the criminal case, the Chief of Police will have up to 30 days upon official receipt of the disposition with which to determine any administrative disciplinary action to follow, including termination.

Source: Fort Worth Police Department