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U.S. NEWS Thursday 21 November 2019
Ex-Houston officers face federal charges in deadly

drug raid

By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Two for-
mer Houston police officers
are facing federal charges
accusing them of providing
false information in a Janu-
ary drug raid that left two
people dead and several
officers injured, authorities
said Wednesday.
The federal counts follow
state charges filed in the
case in August, including
two counts of felony mur-
der against one of the offi-
cers. Rhogena Nicholas, 58,
and Dennis Tuttle, 59, were
killed in the raid.
Federal authorities said the
charges against Gerald
Goines, 55, and Steven Bry-
ant, 45, are the result of a
civil rights investigation be-
gun by the FBI following the
botched Jan. 28 raid. Po-
lice alleged Goines lied to
obtain a search warrant. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks during a press conference at HPD headquarters on
Goines, who was shot in Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Houston.
the botched drug raid, Associated Press
and Bryant face charges lated to obstructing justice in the death of Rhogena its procedures to ensure
in a nine-count indictment. by falsifying records. He's will be expedited by the something like this doesn't
They made their initial fed- accused of falsely claim- FBI's actions today," said happen again.
eral court appearances ing in a report after the Michael Doyle, one of the "We cannot change what
Wednesday afternoon. raid that he had identified Nicholas family attorneys happened. We can't go
Prosecutors asked that as heroin a substance that who has been conducting back in time. But we have
Goines be held without was bought at the home an independent investiga- an absolute duty to pursue
bond. He will remain in cus- before the raid. tion of the raid. "The federal the truth, pursue the facts,"
tody until a detention hear- Authorities allege Goines indictments confirm the Acevedo said at a news
ing on Friday. lied in the search warrant breadth and depth of the conference.
"We are looking forward to about having a confiden- lies told to justify the raid Goines faces up to life in
vigorously defending Mr. tial informant buy heroin before and after the death prison if convicted of the
Goines both in state court at the home. Goines later of Rhogena Nicholas." most serious charges relat-
and in federal court," said acknowledged there was Garcia, who also made her ed to depriving the couple
Nicole DeBorde, Goines' no informant and that he initial court appearance of their constitutional right
attorney. She said Goines bought the drugs himself, Wednesday, was expected to be secure against un-
was expected to plead not authorities said. to remain in custody until a reasonable searches. Bry-
guilty. Patricia Garcia, a neighbor detention hearing Friday. ant faces up to 20 years in
Bryant, who was granted a of the slain couple, is ac- During Wednesday's hear- prison while Garcia faces
$50,000 unsecured bond, cused of making fake 911 ing, she asked for a court- up to five years if they're
pleaded not guilty. calls that led police to the appointed lawyer who was convicted.
Derek Hollingsworth, one of home. She is facing one not immediately named. Following the shooting,
Bryant's attorneys, said the count of providing false in- Authorities have not re- prosecutors began re-
ex-officer is "worried" and formation. vealed why Garcia made viewing more than 2,000
that the federal charges Federal prosecutors allege the 911 calls. Police said cases tied to Goines and
"were unexpected." Garcia made several calls Garcia lived on the same Bryant. In June, prosecu-
Goines was charged with claiming her daughter was street as Nicholas and tors said their investigation
seven counts, including inside the couple's home, Tuttle. DeBorde did not im- had grown into a probe of
two charges in which he is that the couple were drug mediately know if Goines 14,000 cases handled by
accused of depriving the addicts, drug dealers and knew Garcia. the Houston Police Depart-
couple of their constitution- had guns inside their house. Despite the federal charg- ment's narcotics division.
al right to be secure against Family and friends of Tuttle es that allege the two ex- Both Goines and Bryant
unreasonable searches. and Nicholas have con- officers provided false in- were relieved of duty after
Prosecutors allege the tinuously dismissed allega- formation that was used the shooting and later re-
search warrant Goines tions that the couple sold to justify the raid, Houston tired.
prepared contained false drugs. Police found small Police Chief Art Acevedo In state court, Goines is
statements and led to the amounts of marijuana and on Wednesday maintained facing two felony mur-
raid, which resulted in the cocaine in the house, but that officers had a reason der counts while Bryant
couple's deaths and injuries no heroin. to be in the house. is charged with tamper-
to officers. "We hope the Nicholas Acevedo said his agen- ing with a government
Bryant faces one count re- family's quest for justice cy has made changes to record.q