2 arrested on evidence-tampering charges after Texas teen's drowning
Two people have been arrested after investigators alleged they concealed evidence following the drowning death of an 18-year-old at a North Texas lake earlier this year, according to the Dallas Police Department.
Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect are each charged with tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony, police said Monday. The arrests come after the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Daniel Erving's death an accidental drowning, according to a statement provided to ABC News.
"The Dallas Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Daniel Erving," department spokesperson Erika M. Brown said in the statement. "This was a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a young person."
Brown said detectives conducted "a thorough investigation, including interviews, evidence collection, and coordination with the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office."
"The Medical Examiner determined Daniel Erving's cause of death was drowning, and the manner of death was ruled accidental," Brown said.
According to police, detectives determined that Roper and the juvenile were present when Erving drowned but failed to report the incident and later discarded some of his belongings.
"During the investigation, detectives identified evidence that two individuals who were present at the lake failed to report the incident and later discarded items belonging to Daniel," Brown said. "As a result, investigators obtained arrest warrants for Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect. They are each charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence, a third-degree felony."
Police said both suspects have been arrested and that the cases will proceed through the criminal justice system.
According to the arrest affidavit, Erving was reported missing by the Rowlett Police Department on April 13 after he was last seen with Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile at Lake Ray Hubbard. Investigators allege the three jumped into the water from a railroad bridge near the 6300 block of Miller Road, where Erving drowned.
The affidavit alleges that after Erving drowned, Roper and the juvenile fled the scene in Roper's vehicle.
Investigators also allege Roper threw Erving's clothing into a tree line near the bridge, and that the juvenile threw Erving's cellphone from the vehicle after Roper told him to do so. The cellphone and some of Erving's clothing were later recovered after the juvenile showed detectives where they had been discarded, according to the affidavit.
During a voluntary interview with detectives, Roper allegedly admitted he "panicked" after Erving drowned and that he and the juvenile fled the scene.
According to the affidavit, Roper also admitted deleting all communications with Erving from his cellphone because he "was aware that there would be an investigation into Daniel Erving's death and he did not want to get into trouble." Detectives later examined Roper's cellphone and confirmed those communications had been deleted, the affidavit states.
The affidavit alleges Roper tampered with physical evidence by discarding Erving's clothing and deleting communications with Erving from his cellphone. It also alleges Roper and the juvenile stopped their vehicle away from the scene and threw Erving's cellphone into a ditch to prevent it from being available to investigators.
The case remains under investigation.
