AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department has made an arrest in a sex assault incident that occurred in May 2017. 

Eric Nelson, 29, was arrested Wednesday after a DNA match was made. 

The transgender victim reported that she vaguely knew the suspect, only by first name, and had him over. Amid the start of a consensual exchange, the victim said Nelson got too rough and would not stop despite her request that he do so.

He continued to sexually assault her before she was able to get away and grabbed a hammer in self-defense, yelling that Nelson leave, in the living room of her home. When he came after her, she attempted to hide in a closet in her bedroom, but he found her. 

The victim says she didn't remember anything after that and police said she sustained head injuries. When she came to, she was in her bathroom, bloody, and Nelson was still there. According to her testimony, she then ran outsidem naked, after grabbing a knife, and pierced Nelson's tire to prevent him from fleeing.

She then hid in the backyard, waited until she heard his car take off and called the police. 

A successful DNA match led police to find Nelson. 

Police are encouraging any victims of sex assault come forward and report their encounters.