| By Allison Triarsi at KHOU News, Houston
A firefighter who sparked a citywide controversy after claiming she was harassed by members of the Houston Fire Department is facing a new legal battle. Jane Draycott was arrested for shoplifting at a Spring Walmart on FM 2920 Monday evening. Court documents acquired by 11 News state Draycott was arrested by Precinct 4 deputy constables for unlawfully taking one Digital Video Disc Player, or DVD player, around 9:45 p.m. Draycott was charged with theft and given a $500 bond. She bonded out around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. Draycott and another female firefighter filed a lawsuit claiming harassment and discrimination while employed by the Houston Fire Department. The harassment investigation began in 2009 when Jane Draycott and the other firefighter said racist and sexist graffiti was scribbled on their lockers at Fire Station 54.
Draycott’s lawsuit claimed she was the victim of repeated unwanted sexual advances from other firefighters at multiple stations where she worked, and after she reported it, she was harassed by her superiors.
After city officials found the investigation to be “inconclusive,” Draycott decided to return to her station near Bush Intercontinental Airport.
In January, Draycott returned to Fire Station 54, but left after a captain read a letter during roll call that said she wasn’t to be trusted. Several firefighters from Station 54 were reassigned due to the controversy. She returned to work again a week later, where she is a current employee.
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