Posted on 07/31/2019 11:14:26 AM PDT by abb
Ogg adds 10 to staff investigating botched Harding Street raid
By Aaron Barker - Senior Digital Editor Posted: 10:56 AM, July 31, 2019 Updated: 10:56 AM, July 31, 2019 KPRC
HOUSTON - Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is adding 10 people to her staff investigating the deadly botched Harding Street raid.
Ogg made the announcement Wednesday after a 5-0 vote by the Harris County Commissioners Court that approved funding for the additional staff in the DA’s Civil Rights Division.
The seven prosecutors and three investigators, which Ogg said in June would cost about $2 million, will more than double the size of the division.
“We now have the horsepower to get to the bottom of the Harding Street raid and related concerns,” Ogg said in a written statement Wednesday. “The public deserves answers sooner than later."
It’s been a little more than seven months since officers stormed into 7815 Harding St. Police said Dennis Tuttle engaged in a gun battle with officers. Tuttle and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, were killed during the exchange, police said.
Houston police Officer Gerald Goines is accused of lying on the affidavit used to get a no-knock warrant that led to the raid.
The DA’s office has launched an investigation into more than 2,000 cases involving the Houston Police Department’s narcotics division, including the Harding Street raid.
ping
A botched drug raid led to a wave of leaks. Cops peeking at internal records then found themselves under investigation.
Photo of St. John Barned-Smith
St. John Barned-Smith July 30, 2019 Updated: July 30, 2019 4:58 p.m.
Harris County DA wants $2 million to review 14,000 cases following botched drug raid
It’s bad when it happens.
Cops probably saved dozens of lives the other day because thank God they were under a minute away.
don’t want to ruin the narrative here but there’s good and there’s bad.
When they’re wrong, nail them.
But they should dead quite a few real bad guys each year too.
NO MORE NO KNOCK RAIDS.
The exceedingly rare case of a known hostage situation aside, the damage these do to our country and constitution are orders of magnitude worse than merely letting some evidence get destroyed.
if the person isn’t given a chance to respond to the announcement of a search warrant, any subsequent killing is MURDER.
And they lied apparently.
The Police Chief needs to be fired.
What? This investigation should have been completed by week two.
Quite true, but even the good cops, even the heroes, share some blame for incidences like this one. Folks like to say it's the 1% (or 2%, 5%, whatever) of bad cops that ruin it for others. But that is not true. It's the 95% of "good cops" that look away, stay silent, or even lie to cover for them. It's cultural. It is slowly changing (flashing your badge to get out of a DUI or other crime is no longer a guarantee), but it's not changing fast enough. The Blue Wall is still a formidable barrier to justice.
HPD needs a top to bottom clean up. Those who lied in this miscarriage of justice that led to the murder of two innocent citizens should be arrested.
Can’t argue with any of that.
That cam footage is helping things go in a more positive direction.
Should be more of them and should be required.
But you’re RIGHT about DWI/DUI. My ex cop and still cop friends say they don’t want to be accessories to manslaughter if the cop hits someone on the way home after they stopped them.
Commissioners OK more prosecutors for DA’s office to investigate botched Harding Street raid
Photo of Keri Blakinger
Keri Blakinger July 31, 2019 Updated: July 31, 2019 1:05 p.m.
The public should have already had the answer. Goines should be in jail.
Art needs to go back where he came from. Take his mewling little HPOU president with him.
Has there been any evidence presented that he even fired his weapon?
This does have the stink of an execution to it.
My cynical mind wonders if...
1. Orders by one of the Mexican Cartels?
2. The cop that got shot in the neck? Was he not cooperating with the others in dirty dealing?
The narco wars corrupt. Just like the alcohol wars did.
The police, the courts, the politicians, the judiciary.
Not that I’ve seen. The only place the .357 has been seen is on the pages of the police report, IIRC.
One theory I’ve seen is that the raid was an opportunity to settle scores among each other on the drug task force. Tuttle, Nicholas, and their dog were collateral damage.
“if the person isn’t given a chance to respond to the announcement of a search warrant, any subsequent killing is MURDER.”
I live out in the country side. I am a law abiding citizen, retired pharmacist and current flight instructor. I am not a criminal. If someone is breaking down my front door I must assume it is a criminal that wishes me great harm and or death. I will defend.
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