Dallas police officer arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child

A Dallas police officer was arrested this week on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of sexual abuse of a child, the police department announced Wednesday.

Officer Brennon Wilkinson, 28, was arrested by Arlington police on Monday in connection with the allegations. The Dallas Morning News has asked Wilkinson's lawyer for comment.

Arlington police spokesman Tim Ciesco said Denton County authorities had alerted the police department that a suspect in connection with a sexual assault case in Little Elm may be in Arlington.

Officers found Wilkinson in the 2600 block of Vanessa Circle, near South Bowen Road, and took him into custody without incident, Ciesco said. He was booked into the Tarrant County Jail, where he remained Wednesday on $200,000 bail, according to jail records.

Ciesco referred inquiries about the allegations to Little Elm police. A Little Elm police spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The news filed a records request about Wilkinson in July, but the Dallas Police Department's public records division had not responded to all requests as of Wednesday. A July 18 letter from The news told Wilkinson that the department would place him on leave, but did not elaborate on the allegations.

Aggravated sexual abuse of a child is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison. Lewdness with a child (sexual contact) is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Lewdness with a child (exposure) is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Wilkinson was assigned to the North Central Patrol Division and has been with the department since January 2020, Dallas police officials said. He remains on leave pending the investigation.

On Wednesday, the department also announced the unrelated arrest of another Dallas police officer on domestic violence charges. Sr. Cpl. Raneen Bazzi is on leave, police officials said.