Police say rapist posed as police officer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators in the Houston Police Department Major Offenders Division have arrested a sexual assault suspect who posed as a police officer and are urging any other victims to come forward to report similar crimes.

About 1:30am last Thursday, a 31-year-old woman discovered her vehicle had a flat tire and pulled into an Exxon station at 1200 Dairy Ashford at the Katy Freeway service road. As she examined her car, a man asked about her tire and flashed what she believed to be a law enforcement badge. He then told her she should not be driving in her condition and asked for her identification, which she gave to him.

The man then took the woman's cellphone. The victim, believing the suspect was a police officer, agreed to let the man give her a ride.

Instead of taking her to her home, he drove her to an unknown parking garage in the area.

"He drives up in the parking garage and tells her, 'You are going to do something for me, otherwise you are going to jail.' He goes on top of the parking garage, we believe it's a three or four story parking garage. He has her exit the vehicle and demands that she take her clothing off where he sexually assaults her," said Officer Art Mejia with the Houston Police Department.

The suspect took off and the victim walked back to the gas station and to get help.

Francisco Jose Ugarte, 46, is charged with two counts of sexual assault. Investigators are releasing a photo of his vehicle, a 2008 maroon BMW, should other victims recognize it and want to report contact with the suspect. Ugarte is described as Hispanic, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds. He has a light complexion, straight dark hair, a medium build and was not clean shaven.

Ugarte was arrested last Saturday without incident.

Police say video surveillance from the Exxon helped identify Ugarte. Authorities aren't releasing his photo right now because they believe there may be more female victims and they don't want to hinder the investigation.

Right now police are urging any woman who may have come in contact with the man driving that maroon BMW to call HPD's Major Offender's Unit at 713-308-3100.

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