a day ago
Houston METRO police officer arrested in child sex crime sting
The Brief
Gabriel Thomas Slusher, a METRO police officer, was arrested for attempting to solicit nude photos of an 8-year-old, following an online investigation by Montgomery County Precinct 1.
Slusher was apprehended at METRO Police headquarters with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held on a $100,000 bond, suspended without pay pending further investigation.
METRO PD condemned Slusher's actions as deeply disturbing and contrary to their values, while law enforcement agencies emphasized the importance of collaboration in protecting children.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Members of a task force that tracks child predators online in Montgomery County arrested a METRO police officer on Thursday. Gabriel Thomas Slusher, 27, is charged with attempt to commit sexual performance by a child under 14.
What we know
An undercover investigator with the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office was conducting an online investigation on Tuesday, June 10, when he made contact with a man investigators later identified as Slusher. Precinct 1 said the man requested nude photos of an 8-year-old female.
As part of the investigation, authorities created an undercover persona of a 28-year-old female with an 8-year-old daughter residing in Magnolia, Texas. During the investigation, the undercover officer communicated through an undercover Kik profile with Slusher.
On June 10, while reviewing personal ads on investigators saw an ad titled "Married cop", and the ad read, "28m 280lbs with full facial hair looking for discrete regular fwb or affair I'm open to anything message me here or ad me on kik …"
The investigator started to have conversations with Slusher on Kik where both talked about their "interests". That's when Slusher admitted to being into young girls and had "no limits" and was into "taboo relationships".
Slusher asked the undercover investigator how old "her" daughter was and when Slasher found out she was 8-years-old he replied, "Nice good age".
Slusher exchanged images with the undercover investigator of himself and nudes. During the investigation, Slusher told the undercover to send him nude pictures to confirm he wasn't talking "with a cop".
Throughout the investigation, two other undercover officers also engaged in conversations with Slusher on Kik, and received photos of him. The investigators were able to compare photos and in one photo, Slusher sent he was in a police uniform. The undercover officer told Slusher that they were into "cops in uniform" and, upon receiving more Slusher pictures in uniform, they saw his name patch and that he worked with the Houston Metro Police Department.
After authorities conducted a search in a law enforcement database for the name of Gabriel Thomas Slusher, they obtained his address, date of birth, and past addresses; investigators were also able to obtain Slusher's Texas driver's license photo.
Dig deeper
In light of these allegations, No Trafficking Zone encourages community awareness by offering resources on signs of grooming that minors and parents should be aware of.
Recognizing grooming signs for sex trafficking can be crucial for intervention. Some common signs include:
Isolation: The trafficker may isolate the victim from family, friends, or community support.
Control: They might exert control over the victim's finances, identification documents, or movements.
Exploitation: The trafficker may exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, homelessness, or past trauma.
Gifts and Favors: Offering gifts, attention, or promises of a better life as a means of manipulation.
Relationship Development: Building a relationship based on trust and emotional dependence before introducing exploitative activities.
Predatory behaviors and tactics are methods used by individuals to exploit others for personal gain, often at the expense of the victim's well-being. Some common predatory behaviors and tactics include:
Grooming: Establishing trust and rapport with the victim to manipulate and control them over time.
Isolation: Physically or emotionally isolating the victim from their support network, making them more vulnerable and dependent.
Manipulation: Using emotional manipulation, flattery, or coercion to persuade the victim into compliance.
Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities such as financial difficulties, emotional instability, or past trauma.
Deception: Lying or misrepresenting intentions or circumstances to gain the victim's trust or compliance.
Intimidation: Using threats, aggression, or violence to instill fear and compliance in the victim.
Gaslighting: Manipulating the victim into doubting their own perceptions, memory, or sanity, which makes them easier to control.
Control of Information: Limiting the victim's access to information or controlling the narrative to maintain power and control.
These behaviors and tactics are often used by predators in various contexts, including, but not limited to, online grooming, human trafficking, domestic abuse, and financial scams. Recognizing these signs is essential for protecting oneself and others from exploitation and harm.
These signs, among others, could indicate potential grooming for sex trafficking. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, it's essential to report it to the authorities or a trusted organization for assistance.
What they're saying
Jacquelyn Aluotto is the Co-Founder and President of No Trafficking Zone, and she told FOX 26 this case is deeply disturbing.
"Whenever you see cases like this of online solicitation or someone try to buy a child. It's always disturbing but when you see that it's an officer that people trust, it becomes even more disturbing because you start to understand that predators are everywhere," Aluotto said. "We see predators preying it is their job. We like to tell parents to monitor their children's phones. A lot of the time these kids don't know when they're being groomed, recruited, or lured through an internet chat."
What you can do
Anyone with information related to this case or the online exploitation of children is urged to contact the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office ICAC Division at (936) 539-7800 or Crime Stoppers.
The Source
FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia obtained the arrest warrant affidavit for Gabriel Slusher.
