HOUSTON -- A grand jury indicted Houston Police Chief C.O Bradford Friday, accusing him of lying during a disciplinary hearing. Hours later, Bradford announced that he would take a leave of absence until the trial is over.

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Bradford Announces Decision

Bradford was indicted on aggravated perjury charges.

Bradford was defending himself against allegations of perjury from a complaint filed by Capt. Mark Aguirre, who's under fire for leading the controversial Kmart parking lot raid last month and has since been suspended with pay.

"It means that there's probable cause to believe the chief of police committed aggravated perjury," Harris County Assistant District Attorney Don Smyth said.

The charge is a third-degree felony, with a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Bradford and Houston Mayor Lee Brown appeared in a joint news conference two hours after the indictment was handed down.

"He will, effective at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, go on leave, as would be the case with any police officer placed under indictment pending outcome of the trial," Brown said.

"We have a process in America where allegations are made and I'm not above the law. Obviously, I'm disappointed but nonetheless I need an opportunity to listen to what evidence (is) presented, what witnesses testify," Bradford said.

Bradford said he looks forward to the opportunity to prove his innocence.

Assistant Chief Tim Ottmeyer was named the acting chief for the Houston Police Department.

"We feel this vindicates Captain Aguirre and shows that he had been targeted by Bradford," Aguirre's attorney, Terry Yates, said.

Aguirre also testified before the grand jury Tuesday. He was on the stand for approximately one hour.

Long before the Kmart raid, Aguirre claims that Bradford lied under oath during a disciplinary hearing in May in which Aguirre was appealing a reprimand where he was accused of using profane language to subordinates.

Bradford testified that he never used bad language, but was quickly contradicted by an assistant chief.

The parking lot raid happened Aug. 19 in the parking lot of a Kmart department store, located in the 8400 block of Westheimer Road, in southwest Houston.

As a result of the operation, 278 people were arrested with the majority being charged with criminal trespass.

Thirteen officers have been suspended in the wake of the raid, including Aguirre.

One of those people arrested has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the city, accusing Aguirre and the city of falsely arresting him for "attempted trespass."

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