Katy Man Caught After Citywide Manhunt, Authorities Grateful for Community Involvement

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

Katy Magazine Editors

March 9, 2021

A Katy man is in custody after leading authorities, and the city, in a manhunt since last Thursday. Cody Harrison Towner was arrested on multiple charges including sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl. Tips from residents seeing him in the Katy area ultimately led to his capture.

Cody Harrison Towner, in custody. Photo: Harris County Constable Office, Precinct 5

Wanted For Sexually Assaulting a 7-Year-Old Girl

Deputies with Constable Ted Heap’s Strategic Response Unit and Special Operations Division arrested Cody Harrison Towner Monday morning in the 20200 block of the Katy Freeway.

Towner was wanted on two charges of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl and had been on the run since evading arrest since last Thursday. According to authorities, Towner had been abusing the victim for the past two years. The 9-year-old girl is now safe and living with her biological father.

“She is getting help in dealing with this trauma,” says Robert Henslee with Harris County Constable Office, Precinct 5.

“It brings me great pleasure to have him off the streets, to where he cannot victimize any additional children,” says Harris County Constable Heap.

Criminal History, Arrest Warrant, Police Chase

Towner has an extensive criminal history, and authorities described him as dangerous. In January, he was arrested by the Katy Police Department when he was found in possession of meth, prior to the sexual assault being reported.

An arrest warrant for the aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 was posted for Towner in February. Towner had previously been charged with possession of a controlled substance under one gram and twice for assaulting a family member, in 2010 and 2013.

Precinct 5 Investigator Mike Puente issued a public bulletin after Towner escaped a traffic stop at North Fry and Morton Road that turned into a chase on Thursday.

The chase ended in a crash at Morton and Sedgeborough, where he fled the scene on foot and left his wife, Jessica with injuries. While many have expressed concern for her on social media, she has remained not a concern of the police.

Numerous people reported seeing Towner in the Katy area and it was believed that he and Jessica were living out of a truck. Ultimately, such tips, led Puente to locate the suspect.

Constable Praises Community

“This is a wonderful example of us being able to utilize the people living in our community that want to have a safe place to live,” says Constable Heap. “This shows the importance of the public working with law enforcement.”

Watch Constable Heap's video message to the community here:

In addition to two counts of sexually assaulting a child, Towner was also charged with evading arrest, possession of heroin and possession of three stolen credit cards, which were found on him at the time of his arrest. Constable Heap said Towner took extensive action to avoid being captured.

Crime Stoppers offered a $5000 reward for information that led to his arrest.

Another Example of Broken Bond System

Towner was released on a Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond the end of January. Less than a month after his release, he was accused of assaulting a child. This is an example of the broken bond system that Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers is fighting to stop.

“I wish I could say I am shocked, but this is what we are seeing now,” says Andy Kahan. “You have an individual with four felony convictions. The majority are assaulted nature.”

Kahan explains that PR bonds were meant for misdemeanor offenders not someone like Towner, a repeat felon.

“Over 20 bills have been filed to address the broken bond system,” says Kahan. “The next two months will be crucial in fixing the system because it will not be done locally.”

“I just want to say thank you to all of you who gave us tips and led us in the right direction to apprehend this suspect,” says Constable Heap.