RICHMOND, Texas – Ex-Houston police officer, James Combs, 33, appeared in court Monday to be arraigned on an intoxication manslaughter charge.
Investigators said Combs was off duty when he was involved in a deadly crash on Beechnut Road near F.M. Road 1464 in Fort Bend County on Aug. 12. Police said Combs was legally drunk, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17, when he slammed into a Corvette, killing the driver, according to police.
Investigators said Combs was driving a sport utility vehicle when he swerved into the oncoming lane and slammed head-on into the sports car driven by 36-year-old Brian Manring, then rolled over it. Manring was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the father of a 6-year-old girl.
Fort Bend County sheriff's deputies said they could smell alcohol on Combs' breath and wanted him to take a sobriety and Breathalyzer test, but he refused.
Combs was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy and found to be more than twice the legal limit for intoxication, according to the sheriff.
Many are wondering why Combs wasn't arrested at the scene, considering officers at the scene reported smelling alcohol on his breath.
He appeared at the Fort Bend County courthouse Monday, facing one count of intoxication manslaughter.