2 years after deadly Harding Street raid, family still fights for answers
HOUSTON โ The families of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle said Thursday they are still fighting for answers as to exactly what happened during the botched Harding Street police raid two years ago. Nicholas, Tuttle and their dog were killed Jan. 28, 2019, when police stormed their home. Former Officer Gerald Goines is accused of using bogus information to get the warrant that led to the raid. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also defended HPD, saying the actions of a few should not taint the many. Many civil rights and police reform activists said what happened on Harding Street further highlights the need for outside oversight.
Families of couple killed in Harding Street drug raid sue Houston, police
Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas along with photos of gunshot holes inside the house on Harding Street where the couple was shot to death by Houston police during a botched raid on Jan. 28, 2019. She helped all her neighbors,โ John Nicholas, Rhogena Nicholasโ brother, said at a news conference Thursday. AdAt the time of the Jan. 28, 2019 raid, police had accused Tuttle and Nicholas of selling heroin from their home. Michael Doyle, one of the attorneys for Rhogena Nicholasโ family, said questions remain about how the couple was killed as police have refused to release ballistics reports and other evidence about the shooting. The police department has distanced itself from Goines and Bryant, whoโs accused of helping Goines cover up the faulty warrant.
Federal judge rules against Houston in latest Harding Street chapter
HOUSTON โ A federal judge has derailed the City of Houstonโs efforts to push a civil lawsuit regarding the deadly botched raid on Harding Street in federal court. The family is seeking to secure records from the Houston Police Department, including ballistic, as well as interviews with those involved in the deadly raid that killed Tuttle and Nicholas on Jan. 28, 2019. Every step of the way they are obviously happy that the court says no, we are not going to let this stay covered up. KPRC 2 Investigates exposed the botched raid was built on a fabricated warrant in February 2019. The deadly incident has resulted in several federal and state criminal indictments of HPD officers from that night, including murder charges for former narcotics officer Gerald Goines.
State lawmakers, Harding Street families to discuss HPD narcotics audit at site of deadly raid
HOUSTON Texas lawmakers and family members of the two people killed in police raid more than a year ago will discuss Thursday a recently released audit of the Houston Police Departments narcotics division. Since then, a total of six officers and one civilian have been charged in connection with the raid. Prosecutors have said the warrant used to raid the home was obtained by an officer who lied on an affidavit. An audit released Wednesday showed there were more than 400 errors across more than 200 cases brought by the narcotics division. Wu said the lawmakers will also discuss legislation stemming from the raid that they plan to file in the next legislative session.
Ogg: Case involving George Floyd was among Goines cases being reviewed by prosecutors
HOUSTON โ A 16-year-old drug case involving George Floyd was among the hundreds of cases connected to ex-Houston police Officer Gerald Goines that are being reviewed by prosecutors, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Cases involving Goines were questioned after he was charged with murder and tampering with a government record in connection with the 2019 raid on a Harding Street home that ended with officers shooting and killing Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. County prosecutors have said they anticipate having to clear more than 100 cases involving Goines. Ogg said Floydโs case was among the cases that prosecutors were working to clear. Floydโs case is also among the 14,000 cases involving the Houston Police Departmentโs narcotics division that are also being reviewed, Ogg said.
91 additional drug convictions connected to officer charged in Harding Street raid to be overturned
HOUSTON โ Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday that nearly 100 more defendants who were convicted as part of a case made by former Houston police Officer Gerald Goines will be cleared. Goines has been charged with murder and tampering with a government record following the botched Harding Street raid that left Rhogena Nicholas, Dennis Tuttle and the coupleโs dog dead. As a result of the investigation into the raid, Ogg said prosecutors have reviewed several of Goinesโ cases and will be overturning at least 91 additional convictions. โWe will continue to work to clear people convicted solely on the word of a police officer who we can no longer trust,โ Ogg said. According to Ogg, 73 cases where Goines was the only witness were previously overturned.
Grand jury makes โunprecedentedโ visit to the site of deadly Harding Street raid
HOUSTON โ KPRC 2 has learned a grand jury has visited the Harding Street site, where a deadly shootout with Houston Police Department happened in January 2019. KPRC 2 saw Harris County Constable Precinct 1 deputies and representatives from the Harris County District Attorneyโs Office at the home. Transported via shuttle, the grand jury was taken inside the home for approximately a 20-minute tour. A botched January raid at a home on Harding Street led to a monthsโ long investigation and three people charged in connection with the deaths of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle. "That the grand jury is given an opportunity to see Rhogena and Dennisโ home is welcome news, but we also know that an independent forensic evaluation of the Harding Street incident is vitally necessary.โ
Top stories of 2019 (#5): Harding Street raid prompts extensive investigation, multiple federal charges
Two former Houston Police Department officers, Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant, and the neighbor who called 911, Patricia Garcia, are all accused of federal crimes. Twenty-seven pending cases involving officers Goines and Bryant were eventually dropped. The FBI also launched a civil rights investigation into the botched raid in February. If convicted of federal charges, Goines faces up to life in prison. Bryant is charged with falsifying records in a federal investigation.
โI screw upโ: Read Goinesโ notes to investigators about deadly Harding Street raid
HOUSTON โ Gerald Goines, the former Houston police officer charged in connection with a deadly police raid earlier this year, admitted that he screwed up, according to his handwritten notes that are part of court records released last week. The 10-page document includes notes Goines wrote to investigators who were questioning him after the Jan. 28 raid that ended with the deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. On page seven, Goines wrote:โI screw up because I made a buy without the correct manpower out there. Goines, who is accused of lying on documents that were used to obtain the warrant for the raid, was released Thursday after being granted bail by a federal judge. In addition to federal charges, Goines faces two counts of murder at the state level.
Ex-HPD Officer Gerald Goines secretly released after being granted $150,000 bail
HOUSTON โ Gerald Goines, the former Houston police officer charged in connection with the deadly Harding Street raid, was secretly released Thursday after being granted bail a day earlier. The U.S. Marshallโs Office told KPRC 2 Goines was ushered out of the Harris County Jail at some point Thursday morning. A Magistrate Court judge blocked the bail after prosecutors raised concerns that Goines may be a flight risk. BACKGROUND: Whatโs in the federal indictment for Gerald Goines, Steven Bryant and Patricia Garcia? In addition to federal charges, Goines also faces two counts of murder that were filed against him at the state level.
Woman accused of calling 911 in Harding Street raid enters not guilty plea, granted bond
HOUSTON โ Two Houston police officers and the woman who called 911 are facing federal charges in connection with the botched Harding Street raid. According to court documents, the three lied about happenings at the home on Harding Street, which led to the raid that left Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicolas dead. Bryant is accused of lying about investigating the home and seeing the heroin Goines' reportedly bought from the home, according to court documents. Garcia appeared in federal court Thursday and entered a not guilty plea. She must have verifiable employment and she must reside her motherโs home on Harding Street with a third party in the home for her to be released to.