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A former officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was charged with rape and other offenses for an alleged sexual assault while on duty in early January.
Myron Howard, 27, also was charged with improper sexual conduct in a separate incident that allegedly occurred in August 2023, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.
In all, Howard was charged with rape, criminal confinement, two counts of official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity.
In the Jan. 6 incident, authorities say Howard and other officers responded to a domestic violence report at a home on North Olney Street.
Just after midnight, Howard allegedly returned to the home and a sexual assault occurred.
The victim told investigators that when Howard came back, she let him in the house because “being an officer, I trusted him.” She said she felt obligated to do what Howard told her to do because he threatened to press charges against her, investigators reported.
Authorities said Howard was still on duty at the time of the assault and reportedly turned off his body-worn camera during it.
He told investigators the woman came onto him.
When asked if having sex on duty was something he did frequently, Howard said it wasn’t but that he’s done it at IMPD and when he worked for the Yorktown and Anderson police departments.
During the investigation into the January sexual assault, investigators learned that on August 15, 2023, Howard investigated a crash and afterwards, returned to the scene and offered a woman involved a ride home in exchange for sex, according to police reports.
“The allegations set forth in the probable cause affidavit are extremely disturbing and the alleged conduct is a pattern of behavior that is reprehensible,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to keep our community safe, not abuse their position of power to harm and take advantage of others. Today marks the first step toward justice for the courageous survivors in this case.”
Howard’s initial hearing is set for Thursday. This case is State of Indiana v. Myron Howard, 49D31-2404-F1-009144.
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