Chase Suspect's Family Sues City, Police

HOUSTON -- The wife of a man shot and killed by police officers after a chase filed a lawsuit against the city of Houston and two police officers, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

The lawsuit comes amid the confusion and mystery surrounding Roland Carnaby.

Friends and loved ones said they believe the 52-year-old man was a CIA contractor. However, the Central Intelligence Agency said that is not true.

On Thursday, the Harris County medical examiner ruled Carnaby's death a homicide. But it has not yet been determined if it was "justified."

Carnaby's wife, Susan, said she blames police for the high-speed chase and shooting that ended her husband's life.

"The death of her husband was unconstitutional, and it was excessive force and result of faulty policies," family attorney Randall Kallinen said.

Carnaby was pulled over for speeding on Tuesday and apparently tried to avoid a ticket by flashing a Central Intelligence Agency ID card, officials said.

When he was asked to exit his SUV, he sped away, leading police on a high-speed chase for almost an hour, according to police.

When he stopped on Woodway at the West Loop, he was shot by two officers who thought he was reaching for a gun, police said. Officials later determined that he was probably reaching for a cell phone, but three weapons were found in the SUV.

"This was a silly chase. They had his identification. He was guilty only of speeding at the most, yet they chased him and endangered all these people for what, for speeding," Kallinen said.

After Carnaby was shot, family members said the officers should have given him first aid instead of waiting 12 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

An HPD spokesman declined to comment on Friday, saying the case is still under investigation.

For years, Carnaby held himself out to friends, family and neighbors as a CIA agent. He cultivated friends in law enforcement. During the chase, he even phoned an FBI contact who urged him to pull over.

According to investigators, Carnaby told him he could not stop because he made a mistake.

The lawsuit asked for unspecified damages from the city and the two officers involved.

Police said they have been unable to verify Carnaby's claims that he was a CIA agent or the two sets of CIA documents found in the vehicle that had different names.

Homicide investigators are waiting for toxicology test results to determine if Carnaby had drugs or alcohol in his blood.

The case will be heard by a grand jury.