A 19-year-old man is facing charges after a woman said she was attacked, sexually assaulted, and nearly drowned while exercising along a popular Houston trail earlier this week.
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen identified the suspect as Jacoby Fuselier. He was taken into custody early Tuesday morning and remains in the Harris County Jail.
The attack happened along White Oak Bayou
According to investigators, the woman was walking along the White Oak Bayou Trail near Bent Branch Drive in the Inwood area around 6:30 p.m. Monday when a man attacked her. Deputies say he dragged her toward the water, sexually assaulted her and tried to drown her.
The woman managed to break free and ran back to her car, where she flagged down a passing Precinct 1 deputy for help. She was taken to a hospital, treated, and later released.
Constable Rosen praised the woman’s courage during a press conference Tuesday, saying she showed remarkable strength not just to survive the attack but to get away from her attacker entirely.
Neighbors helped deputies track him down
Investigators worked through the night gathering evidence and tips from the community. Deputies learned that after the attack, a man matching the suspect’s description rode his bicycle through a nearby neighborhood and whistled at another woman. That woman’s husband came outside and confronted him, causing the man to leave the area.
That same family later spotted the suspect again and called authorities, providing video that helped deputies identify and locate him. Investigators also used drone footage while processing the scene. Fuselier reportedly tried to run when deputies approached but was caught and arrested around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, roughly six hours after the attack.
Officials said the woman fought back hard during the struggle, scratching her attacker’s eye and pulling out some of his hair, details that helped investigators confirm his identity. When Fuselier was arrested, deputies recovered the woman’s cellphone along with other physical evidence tied to the case.
Right now, Fuselier faces charges of evading arrest and resisting arrest. Investigators say more charges, including sexual assault, are expected once additional evidence is processed. Rosen noted the case could also lead to further charges, given the accusation that the suspect tried to drown the victim.
Authorities say Fuselier has a prior arrest for theft of a firearm, a charge he was previously convicted of. Other law enforcement agencies are now looking into whether he may be connected to similar incidents elsewhere.
Rosen is urging people who use area trails to stay alert, walk with a partner when they can, avoid wearing both earbuds, and let someone know their route before heading out.
