HOUSTON – Local 2 Investigates has located additional Houston Police Department investigative documents regarding Chief Charles McClelland's auto-pedestrian accident.
The paperwork had never before been seen by the public.
The Houston Police Department argued against the release of the documents citing them as protected personnel files, but Mayor Annise Parker's office provided them following our request.
Local 2 reporter Joel Eisenbaum was allowed to view and take notes from the six additional pages of information, but not allowed to directly photograph or make copies of the documents.
There does not appear to be a bombshell revelation in the pages, which are designed to provide greater detail into McClelland's activities and actions just prior to the September 4 accident, as well as assess blame and punishment.
Particularly, the newly revealed documents do not shed light on any distractions or any more insight into why the Chief failed to notice the pedestrian.
An At-Fault Accident Worksheet uses a formula of damage and injury to assess McClelland's accident as minor, requiring the lowest level of punishment.
Local 2 Investigates, also sought to acquire copies of accident scene photos. A scene photographer is noted as being present on the original police report. An HPD employee responded by phone that there were no photos of the accident scene, the Mayor's office said they were not forwarded photos in the "packet" they reviewed.
The Chief did authorize the release of now well-publicized video taken from security camera of the accident.
McClelland's city-owned Jeep ran into local attorney, James Harris, a block from police headquarters the morning of September 4.
Harris was taken to St. Joseph Hospital with abrasions and an arm injury. He was released hours later.
McClelland took responsibility for the accident and accepted a one day unpaid suspension doled out by Mayor Annise Parker.
Chief McClelland wrote Local 2 News a letter following our request for the additional documents and an interview with him.