A Texas police officer is suing investigators for ignoring evidence that exonerated him on a rape charge he claims ruined his life and took months to reverse.
Officer Freddie Douglas was arrested in December after the girlfriend of a longtime friend accused him and her boyfriend of raping her. The charges were eventually dropped, but Douglas' lawsuit alleges that police knew of evidence that proved the pair's innocence, yet refused to investigate and went ahead with the arrests.
The lover, identified in the complaint as Amanda Zawiercinski, alleges that both Douglas and her boyfriend, John Marks, raped her at Marks' home on Nov. 8, 2023. The complaint details that she “tried to fight off Marks,” after which Marks “pushed her toward Douglas while he continued to fight off her, and he engaged in sexual intercourse with her.” Marks and Douglas were arrested in December, and Marks immediately protested when security camera footage from their home contradicted the accusations.
In the lawsuit filed by lawyer Mike Kerensky, both women claim they had sex with Xavier Szynski but that it was completely consensual.
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Freddie Douglas, left, stands with attorney Mike Kerensky in front of Manvel City Hall on Aug. 22. (Fox News)
“Douglas met AZ [Zawieruszynski] “Zavierczynski first met John Marks at his home … the day before Freddie Douglas' birthday. He and John Marks were planning to go to a Rockets game that night,” the lawsuit states, adding that Zavierczynski texted Marks multiple times to make plans to meet at his home after the game.
The lawsuit also states that Zawierszynski came over to the home and the three had several drinks, but “no one became intoxicated.”
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“At some point, John Marks and AZ began engaging in consensual sexual activity at the swimming pool. AZ then desired to engage in sexual activity with Freddie Douglas, and did so. This sexual activity was conducted with the full consent of all parties involved,” the lawsuit states.
About a month later, Zavierczynski went to Manvel Police Station and alleged that she had been raped by two men, according to the complaint.
Fox News Digital attempted to reach Xavier Szynski, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but was unsuccessful.
Douglas cooperated with the El Campo Police Department and was informed by the chief that MPD would be arresting him on Dec. 7. According to the lawsuit, Douglas immediately told the arresting officers that they would be exonerated after viewing video footage from inside Marks' home, but went ahead with the arrest anyway.
Other MPD officers were then recorded entering Marks' home and discussing the footage, but they made no effort to investigate it, the lawsuit alleges.
Freddie Douglas and his lawyers filed the complaint with Manvel City Council. (Fox News)
Front door camera footage from Marks' home obtained by Fox News Digital shows officers discussing the footage. One officer said Douglas and Marks mentioned it during the arrest. Another officer thought Xavier Szynski may have “consented to it.”
The footage shows the officers noticing the door camera a few minutes later and leaving, saying they would be recording them.
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“Within minutes of Freddie Douglas' arrest, the Manvel Police Department became aware of objective evidence that was determinative of whether the State of Arizona or Douglas and Marks were telling the truth,” Douglas' lawsuit alleges.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, MPD disputed the lawsuit's version of events, with MPD Chief Keith Taylor arguing that “incorrect information was provided to the media by these individuals and their attorneys.”
But he said he couldn't discuss specifics of the case because it's still pending, but he said it was “wrong” to say that MPD investigators knowingly ignored evidence that would have exonerated Marks and Douglas.
Officers from Manvel Police Station discuss the Freddie Douglas case outside the home of John Marks. (Fox News)
“This evidence has been presented to the District Attorney's Office and a grand jury, and these are false allegations, as required by law, and all evidence, including exculpatory evidence, must be presented. The falsehood of these allegations and allegations will become further evident throughout the legal process,” Taylor said.
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The charges against Douglas and Marks were dropped after Douglas complained to the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office, which said Manvel police never complained to them about the incident and that if they had, the District Attorney's Office would not have recommended charges be filed.
When MPD continued to investigate the incident, the District Attorney's Office convened a grand jury, which ultimately dismissed the charges.
