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Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos and her staff put their case against the Houston police officers before the grand jury. Today the grand jury came back with its decision.
“Today the 183rd District Court Grand Jury deliberated and returned indictments against four officers involved in the arrest of the complainant.”
The indictments stem from an arrest made back in March of fifteen-year-old Chad Holley of Houston. DA Lykos says Holley and four others were seen committing a burglary. It’s what happened during that arrest that led to the indictments, plus disciplinary action against five other officers. According to Police Chief Charles McClellan three other officers were fired and two more were suspended for two days.
“I want the citizens of Houston to know that the Houston Police Department is one of the best police agencies in the nation and despite this incident the men and women are going to serve and protect with the highest degree of professionalism and with the utmost integrity. In my administration, there will be zero tolerance for gross violations of departmental policy and or the law and I think employees would expect no less from the chief of police. Thank you.”
The officers are charged with official oppression and violation of civil rights. Both are misdemeanors. They could spend up to a year in jail. D.A Lykos says she has no plans to release the tape of the incident before it’s shown in court. But she wants to make it perfectly clear, the abuse of power by any officer won’t be tolerated in Houston.
“I don’t anticipate anything like this arising in the future, but if it does we’ll be down on them like a duck on a junebug. I can assure you that, sir.”