Suspect in 6 sexual assaults surrenders

By MIKE GLENN and ROSANNA RUIZ

A 40-year-old former peace officer linked by DNA to six northwest Houston rapes in 2001 and 2002 surrendered at the Harris County Sheriff's Office early today.

Jerry Lewis Ford turned himself in about 1:30 a.m. to sheriff's detectives at 49 San Jacinto, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

He was jailed in lieu of $300,000 bail on three charges of sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault and three of burglary with intent to commit a felony.

This week, Houston police linked Ford, who was free on bond on three earlier sex assault charges, to three other attacks in the northwestern part of the city during the same period.

Reports on Thursday that Ford was accused of rapes that took place this year were incorrect.

The victims in each case told investigators they were attacked after a man broke into their homes.

At a news conference today, Houston Police investigator David Cole gave this chronology:

In February 2003, Ford was arrested and charged with raping a prostitute in August of 2002 while posing as a police officer. Before he made bail on that charge, investigators obtained a warrant and collected a DNA sample from Ford.

Earlier this year, DNA testing linked Ford with three sexual assaults in 2001 and 2002. Ford was arrested and charged in those cases when he appeared in court in May for a hearing on the August 2002 case involving the prostitute. That case was dismissed because the complainant missed several dates when she was to testify, Houston police Lt. Robert Manzo said.

On Wednesday, he was charged, based on further DNA testing, with three additional 2001 and 2002 assaults. Police announced that they were seeking him on those charges, and he surrendered early today.

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records show that Ford is a licensed peace officer who worked at various times over the last two decades for police departments at Kendleton, Hempstead and Prairie View A&M. He served as a reserve Precinct 2 deputy constable in Fort Bend County from 2000 to 2004.

No one answered the door late Friday at Ford's north Houston home. Neighbors, who refused to speak for attribution, described him as a pleasant neighbor and said they were shocked by the allegations against him.