A Harris County Precinct 7 deputy stands accused of using the authority of his badge to stalk and sexually harass a teenage Starbucks barista, according to recent reports. Ostin Urbina, a 41-year-old sergeant, faces charges including official oppression following allegations of conducting unlawful traffic stops and inappropriate behavior towards the employee.
Details from KHOU disclose that the incidents started on August 24, 2023, when Urbina reportedly frequented the South Sam Houston Parkway East Starbucks location. After making uncomfortable advances, he allegedly used his access to law enforcement resources to obtain the young woman's personal information.
Following her shift, Urbina is said to have been waiting for her by her car in his patrol vehicle, an action that pushed the employee to seek refuge back inside her place of work until he left. Escalating the situation, he later conducted a traffic stop where he requested her Snapchat and noted that she would soon turn 18, as recounted in court documents.
The sergeant's conduct reportedly continued on Sunday when he pulled the teen over again to proposition her. Urbina apparently told her his body camera was off because he "wasn't conducting a traffic stop, he was just finding a way to talk to her." The issue surfaced after surveillance footage and witness statements corroborated the victim's account, leading to Urbina's arrest, as reported by Click2Houston.
In response to the arrest, the Precinct 7 Constable’s Office circulated a statement, affirming that Urbina was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Constable James “Smokie” Phillips emphasized, "will not tolerate misconduct, mistreatment of any citizen, or any conduct that brings shame or discredits the Precinct Seven Constable Office and the communities we served," as per the information obtained by Click2Houston.
