Warrants accuse a 35-year-old man of burglary with intent to commit a felony, indecency with a child and aggravated assault.
NORTH HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Deputies are asking for help locating Reginald Dewayne Patt Jr., 35, identified as the suspect in a May attack on a 16-year-old near the Lakeview Apartments by Ella Boulevard and Romano Park Drive, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said DNA testing received months after the assault linked evidence to Patt, and the teen later identified him in a lineup. The Sheriff’s Office released the name publicly this week as it concentrates searches in the FM 1960 and Cypress Station area, where deputies believe he has been seen. The case has renewed attention on safety along apartment corridors where students walk home from bus stops, and it has moved from initial evidence collection to a fugitive search focused on a specific suspect.
According to court filings, the teenager had stepped off a school bus and was entering the complex through a hole in a fence when she noticed a man on a back porch holding a gun. The assailant pulled the weapon and threatened to shoot if she screamed, the records state, then sexually assaulted her. Investigators said the girl clutched the attacker and hit an SOS emergency feature on her cellphone, which alerted her mother. The girl’s sister reached the spot and yelled, and the attacker ran. Deputies responded and gathered physical evidence at the scene, canvassing nearby buildings for witnesses and cameras.
Five months passed before lab results returned a DNA match, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Detectives then secured warrants for burglary with intent to commit a felony, indecency with a child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Patt is described as about 6 feet tall and 190 pounds. Investigators said he may be unhoused and often moves through public spaces and commercial strips along FM 1960 and in Cypress Station. They are still working to establish how he reached the complex and whether any vehicle was involved, and they are reviewing additional video from surrounding properties.
The Lakeview Apartments area is a dense cluster of multifamily buildings and small businesses near parkland and feeder streets. After-school hours typically bring heavy foot traffic, neighbors said. In recent violent-crime cases at similar properties, deputies have relied on routine canvasses and DNA matches to push cases forward when attackers are not immediately known. Officials said those tools were crucial here, where the victim’s quick use of a phone alert led relatives and deputies to the scene while the suspect fled on foot.
If taken into custody, Patt would appear in court on the felony warrants, where bond and conditions could be set. Prosecutors could ask for limitations on travel and contact with the victim. The Sheriff’s Office said it plans to keep canvassing the FM 1960 and Cypress Station corridor and to coordinate with patrol units for targeted checks of places where he has been seen. The agency said additional details could be added in court filings as more forensic results and tips arrive.
Residents nearby said deputies have increased patrols since the public notice. One neighbor recalled seeing investigators knock on doors along the fence line after school hours. “There are kids out here every afternoon,” she said. A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said deputies are focused on finding the suspect and presenting the case to a judge, and reiterated that anyone who sees him should avoid contact and call authorities.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Patt had not been arrested. Deputies said they plan additional follow-ups this week across north Harris County, concentrating on FM 1960 and Cypress Station.
Author note: Last updated November 12, 2025.