Police: Austin Officer Fired For Sharing Report With Suspect

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Interim police Chief Brian Manley says an Austin officer was fired for "inexplicable and callous actions" in sharing confidential information with a sexual assault suspect about his accuser.

Manley says in a disciplinary memo obtained by the Austin American-Statesman that officer Carlos Mayfield shared a police report on the alleged assault with the suspect and the suspect's mother.

Details from the report included that the accuser declined to undergo a rape kit exam.

Revealing the information compromised the case and the Travis County district attorney's office declined to prosecute a sex-assault charge, opting to seek a lesser charge against the suspect.

Mayfield was fired Friday and he can appeal the suspension within 10 days.

A criminal investigation into his actions is pending.