Update: Woman who falsely claims Texas Trooper rapes her won't face additional charges

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The Ellis County DA says it will not charge Dixon-Cole since the claim that the trooper made inappropriate physical contact with her was made to a detention officer and not to a peace officer.

“The false report statute requires that a false claim be made to a peace officer conducting an investigation or to an employee of a law enforcement agency that is authorized by the agency to conduct an investigation. Detention officers are clearly employees of a law enforcement agency, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. But detention officers are not authorized by the E.C.S.O. to conduct criminal investigations,” the Ellis County DA's office explained. “For these reasons, statements that Ms. Dixon-Cole made to detention officers at the Ellis County jail do not constitute a false report to a peace officer.”

The Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson released the following statement: “The real harm, in this case, was caused when outside parties with no concern for the truth employed social media to ignite flames of malice and discontent. That bell, once rung, cannot be un-rung. Sadly, the situation that unfolded here in Ellis County over the past five days is being repeated in communities all across our country every day.

In our fast-paced, social media-driven world, truth and justice too often take a back seat to misguided keyboard anger. As we know, there are tragic consequences for that behavior. Baseless digital rage can create real world, innocent victims. As things stand in our world today, there is no reason to think the problem will soon be solved. I want to commend and thank the traditional media outlets who exercised professional restraint and accountability in reporting this story. They investigated first and reported second. The rock of truth has special meaning to those who have been crushed under a tidal wave of lies.”

It's not clear if Merritt or King will face any charges.

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Lawyer apologizes for falsely accusing trooper of rape



DALLAS - An attorney is apologizing for spreading allegations that a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and arrest in North Texas. The apology came hours after DPS released two hours of the trooper’s body camera video.

Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, a state trooper pulled over 37-year-old Sherita Dixon-Cole on suspicion of drunken driving. She told the trooper she was coming from Downtown Dallas and heading to her fiancé’s house in Waxahachie. She said she only had one drink.

During a field sobriety test, the trooper pours out two bottles of alcohol he found in her back seat. He places her under arrest and asks her to sit in the front seat of his patrol vehicle.

That’s the point when Cole said the trooper offered to let her go in return for sexual favors. But that exchange is never heard in the body camera video.

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