BEAUMONT — A Sabine County woman is suing the county sheriff's department, alleging a police officer treated her inappropriately and exposed himself doing a sexual act.
Melissa Tyson of Hemphill filed a complaint April 24 in the Beaumont Division of the Eastern District of Texas against the county of Sabine, the Sabine County Sheriff's Department and constable David Boyd, alleging violation of constitutional rights, negligence and sexual harassment.
According to the complaint, Tyson's husband contacted the Sabine County Sheriff's Department on Sept. 18, 2018, to request a wellness check on his wife who was not answering her phone. Boyd allegedly called the plaintiff's phone and tried to gain Tyson's trust.
On Sept. 19, 2018, the suit says, Boyd went to Tyson's home wearing a black T-shirt that had "sheriff" printed on it. The lawsuit alleges Tyson met with Boyd in the driveway, assuming that the conversation was a follow-up to the previous day's phone call.
The defendant allegedly entered the plaintiff's home and saw a marijuana pipe on the table and threatened Tyson that he would file criminal charges for possession. Boyd, the suit says, then began to make sexually explicit statements to Tyson and then exposed himself to the plaintiff and masturbated in front of her. The plaintiff says the experience caused her to suffer emotionally.
Tyson seeks attorney fees, interest, damages, court costs and all other relief deemed fit. She is represented by attorney Jason M. Byrd of The Byrd Law Firm in Beaumont.
Beaumont Division of the Eastern District of Texas case number 1:19-CV-00198