Dallas police say the man initially labeled a person of interest in the South Dallas sexual assault cases is no longer a person of interest.
Mason has been behind bars on an unrelated probation violation since the early morning hours of September 6.
Dallas Police Sgt. Warren Mitchell released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
"After discussions with the Crimes Against Persons supervisors and detectives it is believed that Mr. Mason is no longer a person of interest based on the recent suspect interview, further review of the offenses, additional DNA analysis, offense details obtained from the survivors, and suspect M.O. It is the department’s belief that Mr. Mason was not involved in these cases. Although DNA analysis is still pending on one remaining case we don’t believe he is responsible for these crimes due to the above reasons."
Mason was picked up on an outstanding warrant for a probation violation related to a driving while intoxicated case.
Mason said while he has been to the South Dallas area on occasional weekends, he wasn't in the area during the time the attacks took place.
He described himself as a hard-working father of an 8-year-old daughter. He said he is college educated and works in the insurance industry. He's concerned about what this has done to his reputation.
Mason said he had no connection whatsoever to the rapes. "Totally innocent, my family and friends know who I am, the type of person I am," he said.
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Mason and his family want police to clear his name and says he can't believe his picture and name were publicized.
"I do want to say, that I am a victim, but the true victims are those that have been raped and I pray for them every day," he said.
Mason remains in jail as of Thursday afternoon. He'll get out of jail once his family is able to pay off his fines. Mason's family tells NBC 5 that won't happen until Monday.
NBC 5's Ray Villeda and Eric King contributed to this report.
