Alleged child predator arrested with public's assistance

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 3/9/21

After putting out a March 4 plea for the community’s help via social media for assistance in tracking down their suspect, investigators were able to arrest Cody Harrison Towner, 37, and charge …

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Alleged child predator arrested with public's assistance

Posted

After putting out a March 4 plea for the community’s help via social media for assistance in tracking down their suspect, investigators were able to arrest Cody Harrison Towner, 37, and charge him with aggravated sexual assault of a child Monday. Harris County Constable for Precinct 5 Ted Heap said in a video posted to social media Monday that Towner was captured with the public’s aid.

“The suspect was apprehended this morning, we received several tips from the public and with help from officers from precinct five constables Special Operations Division, as well as our investigator, which was assigned to the sheriff's office, crimes against children unit,” Heap said.

Heap said Towner’s alleged victim was only 7 years old.

Towner, who Heap said was brought into custody without incident, had multiple charges filed against him after his arrest. Charges include two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, one charge of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of stolen credit cards, Heap said.

Harris County Jail records also indicate that Towner has been charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.

Towner had gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid capture. Heap said he had changed identities and relocated himself regularly. Further, in the initial announcement of the search for Towner, investigators noted that Towner had led police on a high-speed chase which eventually led to him crashing a white pickup which he abandoned.

Towner is currently being held at the Harris County Jail which is located at 1201 Commerce Street in Houston.

Heap said the assistance of the community was vital in bringing Towner in to face charges. The assistance provided by the community may have been in part due to Towner’s easily recognizable neck tattoo which depicts a musical symbol.

“You know, this really shows the importance of the public working with law enforcement, when we can have the public be our eyes and ears out there. It really is a force multiplier for us to be able to do our job effectively,” Heap said. “So this is a wonderful example of us being able to reach out and utilize the people that are out there living in our community that want to have a safe place to live. So I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have gone forth and put forth effort gave us tips and letters in the right directions to apprehend the suspect.”

Cody Harrison Towner