Nearly 4 years after deadly botched raid on Harding Street, still no trial for former HPD officer who faces 2 murder charges
The federal investigation into Harding Street led to additional charges, and while Bryant pleaded guilty to falsifying government records, Goines has yet to face a jury with the feds or Harris County.
Grand jury indicts 6 former Houston narcotics officers
HOUSTON โ A grand jury indicted six former Houston Police Department narcotics officers Thursday on a total of 17 charges, Harris County prosecutors. The indictments come after prosecutors charged the six officers with crimes they said were uncovered during an investigation of HPDโs narcotics division prompted by the deadly Harding Street police raid that killed two residents and injured five officers in January 2019. Former HPD Lt. Robert Gonzales has been indicted on a charge of misapplication of fiduciary property. โThese indictments reinforce our decision to prosecute the graft, greed and corruption in this troubled Houston Police division,โ Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a written statement. Prosecutors have initiated a review of more than 14,000 cases involving HPDโs narcotics division.
HPD narcotics officer relieved of duty as part of โinternal investigationโ
HOUSTON โ A narcotics officer with the Houston Police Department was relieved of duty last week as part of an investigation by the department. A spokesman for HPD said Officer Juan Martinez was relieved of duty on July 16. Houston police Chief Art Acevedo would not elaborate on the nature of the investigation or why Martinez was fired. โThe officer is the subject of a proactive internal investigation,โ Acevedo said in a written statement. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said prosecutors are reviewing more than 14,000 cases involving HPDโs narcotics division.
6 former HPD officers, including Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant, face 15 new felonies linked to botched Harding Street raid
HOUSTON โ Six former Houston police narcotics officers, including Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant, face new felony charges after being accused of falsifying documents about drug payments to informants. Five HPD officers were also hurt in the gunfire. If convicted, the tampering charge carries a penalty of between 2-10 years in prison and the theft charge carries a fine of between $2,500 and $30,000. If convicted, the tampering charges carry a penalty of between 6 months and 2 years in jail. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/1j4bt5I1Ho โ Houston Police Officers' Union (@HPOUTX) July 1, 2020KPRC 2 has covered the botched Harding Street raid extensively.
FULL REPORT: Audit of HPD Narcotics found 404 errors in more than 200 cases involving Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant
HOUSTON โ On Wednesday, Houston police tweeted the full 66-page audit of the HPD Narcotics Division that was ordered after the botched January 2019 Harding Street raid. The internal review of the departmentโs narcotics division from Jan. 28, 2016 to Jan. 28, 2019 was ordered after the fatal raid left Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas dead. Bryant also assisted Goines on 27% of the cases reviewed in the audit. One major issue found by the audit was expense discrepancies including incorrect amounts, incorrect addresses and inaccurate weight of drugs. READ: Full audit report tweeted by Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo
Woman accused of making fake 911 calls in botched Harding Street Raid in custody after violating bond, court records show
HOUSTON โ The woman accused of making fake 911 calls, setting into motion the events of the botched Jan. 2019 Harding Street raid that left two people dead, was taken into custody Tuesday after violating the terms of her bond. Patricia Ann Garcia, 53, appeared in court Tuesday and was taken into custody after allegedly violating the conditions of her bond. She allegedly told officials her daughter was inside of the Harding Street home with heavily armed drug dealers. On Jan. 28, 2019, Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle were killed when several police officers burst into their home at 7815 Harding Street. After officers shot the coupleโs dog, Tuttle began firing at officers and they returned fire, killing both Nicholas and Tuttle, officials say.
1 year later: A look back at botched Harding Street raid, whatโs next
A botched raid resulted in multiple Houston Police Department officers being shots and two homeowners killed. The story fell apart on Feb. 15, 2019, after Channel 2 Investigates first revealed documents showing cops manufactured an unlawful warrant prior to the raid. Weโll get to the truth.โ Her office also launched an extensive review of thousands of past cases involving now-former HPD officers Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant. Last spring, Channel 2 Investigates was the first media outlet to take viewers inside the home and revealed what autopsy reports were found. At his office in Missouri, Maloney said his forensic findings had not matched with the narrative pushed out by HPD.
'Because officers lied, people diedโ: Grand jury hands down indictments against two ex-HPD officers in Harding Street raid
HOUSTON โ A Harris County grand jury handed down indictments against two former Houston police officers Wednesday for their involvement in the botched Harding Street raid, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Only the prosecutors who brought the charges are allowed to go into the grand jury and It is not a surprise that the grand jury stamped off on the charges the DA originally brought. We look forward to our day in court.โBackgroundOn Jan. 28, Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle were killed when several police officers burst into their home at 7815 Harding Street. After officers shot the coupleโs dog, Tuttle began firing at officers and they returned fire, killing both Nicholas and Tuttle, officials say. She allegedly told officials her daughter was inside the home on Harding Street with heavily armed drug dealers.
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.
Judge does not rule during Goinesโ detention hearing in Harding Street case
HOUSTON โ One of the former Houston Police Officers charged in connection with the botched raid on Harding Street appeared in federal court Friday for an arraignment and detention hearing. During Goines detention hearing Friday, FBI Special Agent OโNeil Brown testified about the investigation. He testified Goines was involved in a sexual relationship with one of his confidential informants. Arguing whether bond should be granted is a tough task in federal court, as opposed to state court where Goines remains on a $300 thousand bond. "We are looking forward to vigorously defending Mr. Goines in state court and in federal court."
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.
2 former HPD officers, woman face federal charges after Harding Street raid
Related: Autopsy reports for victims in botched Harding Street raid revealedA federal grand jury returned a 9-count indictment on Nov. 14 that was unsealed Wednesday. READ ALSO: โDebacleโ: Forensic investigator reveals his findings on Harding Street raidBryantโs federal chargeByrant faces one federal charge of falsifying records in a federal investigation. The investigation of the rogue Harding Street raid and the Houston Police Department must continue as far and wide as necessary," wrote Michael Patrick Doyle, LLP. Tuttle then walked out of the backroom and used at .357 revolver to start shooting at officers, Acevedo said. See a timeline of events before, during and after the Harding Street raid below: