| Houston police are investigating the wounding of an armed suspect by HPD officers at 16801 Imperial Valley about 9:45 a.m. today (February 16).
The male suspect, 56, was transported to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the right knee.
No HPD officers were injured in the incident.
Four HPD officers discharged duty weapons: Sergeants M. Reutzel (sworn in as officer in December 1992), J. Vaughan (January 1992), J. Vidal (July 2005) and Officer L. Cook (May 2017). All are assigned to the North Belt Patrol Division.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant M. Dillingham and Officer J. Snook reported:
HPD patrol officers responded to a suspicious person with a weapon call at the above address and made contact with a man fitting the suspect description. Officers saw the man, armed with what appeared to be a black semi-automatic firearm, walking toward the bayou area. Officers gave the suspect repeated verbal commands to drop the weapon, which he ignored. One of the officers deployed a soft impact weapon (bean bag shotgun) and struck the suspect. The suspect then turned toward officers and pointed his weapon at them. Fearing for their lives, four HPD officers discharged their duty weapons and the suspect was struck once in the right knee. The suspect then crawled down to the bayou bank and sat down on the edge with his weapon in his hand.. He continued to refuse officers' commands to drop the weapon.
HPD SWAT officers responded to the scene and, after a short time, took the suspect into custody without further incident. He was then transported by HFD paramedics to the hospital. Officers recovered the weapon, which was determined to be a loaded black pellet gun.
The suspect will be formally interviewed after his release from the hospital. At that time, investigators will consult with the Harris County District Attorney's Office to determine if charges will be filed.
As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
VHS/JFC 2-16-18
Inc. #020235418 |
