Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says the mother of a 9-year-old girl who was struck by a vehicle driven by Chief Deputy Ben Houchin last May has filed a harassment protection order against Houchin.
Tiarrah Moton filed her request on Wednesday. She previously filed a civil lawsuit against Houchin in connection to the crash near NW 8th and West Jennifer Drive. Houchin was in his personal vehicle and admitted that he briefly looked down to change the radio station before hitting the girl on her bike.
She suffered a skull fracture and brain bleed. Wagner says Moton made two reports of harassment against Houchin this month and says the complaints are being handled by Lincoln Police and Houchin and his department are cooperating with the investigation.
Wagner says the judge has set an October 26 court date to decide the issue. He says Moton reported two incidents of harassment on October 1 and 17 In her protection order, Moton claims on October 1 Houchin, who lives in the neighborhood, recorded her and her children.
On October 17, Moton claims Houchin and a friend were in a vehicle at the end of her driveway and got out and stared at her when she came outside her house. Wagner has launched an internal investigation to determine if any sheriff’s office policies were violated and says Houchin is not on administrative leave.