Local Officer Accused Of Extortion, Misconduct, Prostitution

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An Anne Arundel County Police Department officer has been assigned to administrative duty after being charged with extortion, misconduct, and prostitution.

Sexual assault, prostitution, and extortion. All part of a stunning case against the officer who accused of victimizing women in a community he was hired to protect.

Police arrested one of their own on Tuesday, after finding a string of evidence pinning Brian Houseman to four inappropriate relationships.

Houseman, 44, faces charges of fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, two counts of prostitution, four counts of misconduct in office, and extortion by a government employee.

Disturbing court documents accuse him of harassing, and eventually sexually assaulting a victim of another sex crime.

"Texting her over the phone, inappropriate comments, and also texting her pictures of his genitalia that was unwanted on her part," said Ryan Frashure with the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

Three other women were involved, including a suspect in a stalking case, and two prostitutes Houseman apparently contacted while on duty.

Behind the shield of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, 700 other men and women - despite Houseman's actions - still fight to maintain the public's trust.

'I think our citizens know that the Anne Arundel County Police Department does not have this reputation," Frashure said. "This one individual. And it's certainly a blemish to the police department."

The investigation began on April 24, when a female being interviewed for a separate incident told police she had been harassed and sexually assaulted by an Anne Arundel County PD officer.

She said that Houseman had been assigned to investigate a case that involved her, and during the investigation, he made unwanted advances towards her and sent her an unwanted sexual picture.

She also told police that Houseman had persuaded her to have sex with him after saying he could "put in a good word" for someone she knew who was facing charges.

Police immediately began investigating these claims, and during their investigation, they also found that he had sent other inappropriate text messages to someone involved in a case he was investigating.

Houseman is also accused of paying for a prostitute, and later arranging for another prostitution meet up. Police say both of these occurred while he was on duty.

Houseman, who has been with the Anne Arundel County Police Department for approximately 13 years, was arrested Tuesday.

His "police powers" have been suspended and he has been assigned to administrative duty until the criminal and internal investigation concludes.

Anyone with information about these incidents or any other incidents are asked to contact the Anne Arundel County Sex Offense Unit at (410) 222-4732. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact the Anne Arundel County Police tip line at (410) 222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.

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