Local business owner arrested after trying to hire hit man to kill HPD police officer, officials say

HOUSTON – A man was arrested after he tried to hire a hit man to kill a Houston police officer, officials said.

The sources spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

According to one of the sources, the target was a patrol officer stationed on the east side.

The suspect was identified by police as Mohammed Mohamed, 47.

Investigators were alerted in May and early June of someone shopping for a hit man.

Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said Mohamed, who owned a shipping business in east Houston, wanted the officer killed because he believed the officer was interfering with his business operations.

WATCH: Officials discuss arrest made after murder-for-hire plot targeting police officer

Acevedo said Mohamed was given several penalties and tickets by the officer for too many vehicles parked on his property. He was fined for city ordinance violations in the neighborhood of $2,000.

Police said Mohamed wanted the officer to be "disabled" by paying someone to throw acid in his face, but due to Mohamed receiving more tickets, he wanted the officer dead.

Acevedo said Mohamed met with someone he thought was a hit man, but who actually was an undercover police officer, covering his face with a baseball cap and bandana. Police said Mohamed covered his face because he did not want to be extorted by the hit man.

Acevedo said Mohamed made many statements to kill the officer and agreed to pay the hit man $2,000 in cash to get the job done. Acevedo said Mohamed told the undercover cop that he did not want to meet with him to pay the deposit until Ramadan was over.

Police said Mohamed met with the undercover cop and paid him $500 in cash and the $1,500 balance would be paid on the execution of the hit.

Investigators staged the officer's death, took pictures of the officer looking like he was "dead" and staged it to look like a robbery. Acevedo said the officer was not in uniform when the murder was staged.

Acevedo said Mohamed met with the undercover officer and was pleased with the pictures.

Because of danger, Houston SWAT team took Mohamed down and found $1,500 cash on him during his arrest at Peiser Park on Monday.

Sgt. Terry Seagler of the Major Offenders Division said it was an "extremely complicated" investigation that required a translator since there was a language barrier.

Acevedo said because Mohamed has ties to Egypt, he is a flight risk and hopeful he is denied bail.

Mohamed is charged with attempted capital murder.

Channel 2 Investigates did ask Sgt. Jason Alderete if Mohamed said anything when he was taken down by the SWAT team and arrested? While smiling, Alderete simply stated, "he said a bad word."

Editor's note: The name of Mohamed's company has been removed from this article after an attorney for the company informed KPRC2 of a dispute with Mohamed about the name.


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