All In A Week : A Review of Houston Police Department

Another blog out of Houston, one of our friends Chimp Lang, takes a look back over the week in review with the Houston Police Department.

Brotherhood of Blue Continues as Brotherhood of Bad

Houston Police Officer Accused of Theft

Houston Police Officer Stephan Riha

Houston, Texas

Police officers are supposed to fight theft. However, for Houston Police Officer Stephan Riha, somewhere he apparently misunderstood that rule. As an officer with the Houston Police Department since 2007, Riha now stands charged with third-degree felony theft by a public servant.

Riha was arrested in an internal affairs sting. Sources said he pulled over a driver for a routine traffic stop then demanded money.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

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Dallas Police Officer Convicted of Armed Heist at Sam’s Club

Dallas Police Officer Alph Coleman

Dallas, Texas

Once hailed as a hero, a Dallas police officer could be headed to prison.

A Dallas County jury found Alph Coleman guilty of masterminding an armed heist at a Sam's Club where he worked off-duty security.

Jurors delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on Tuesday afternoon.

Officer Coleman spoke exclusively to NBC DFW in 2008 after the robbery. He described how a man in a ski mask rushed into the store and held him at gunpoint.

When asked in the interview if he thought he was going to die, Coleman said, "There's not one time in my head that I was thinking, 'I was going to die.'"

Prosecutors said Coleman wanted to be shot to make the robbery seem more realistic.

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Former Waller Police Officer Calling Himself Irish Terrorist Arrested on Explosives Charges

Cypress, Texas

A former officer with the Waller Police Department, who authorities said described himself as a "terrorist" from Ireland, is the target of a federal investigation after explosives were found in his home.

George K. McCullough, 64, was arrested Friday and accused of illegally storing 800 feet of detonating cord and four electric blasting caps at his home in Cypress, federal officials said Monday.

McCullough, who remains in federal custody, bought items such as replica pipe bombs, rocket launchers and explosive suicide vests from a company in Scranton, Pa., according to federal criminal complaint filed against him.

In September 2009, McCullough told FBI agents that he bought such items for training law enforcement and other first responders. FBI agents said he owned a private security company, Red Lobo Safety and Security, based out of his home in the 15300 block of Ochre Leaf Trail.

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Roman Forest Cop, Formerly With Harris County Sheriff's Office, Charged with Family Violence

Spring, Texas

A former Harris County Sheriffs employee has been charged with Assault-Family Violence.

Precinct 4 Constables arrested Randy Eugene Blackketter, 40, in the 22900 block of Spring Willow Drive Wednesday morning.

Blackketer is a reserve police officer with the Roman Forest Police Department. He served several years with HCSO.

Investigators were called to the residence around 3 a.m. on word of a family disturbance, according to a Precinct 4 Constables Office statement.

A woman told investigators she had been assaulted on at least 2 separate occasions in the past month. Both times, Blackketter left the scene prior to the arrival of deputies.

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Houston Police Officer Demetrie Dixon Found Guilty in Rape Cases

Rookie HPD Officer Guilty in Rape Cases: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Houston, Texas

Demetrie Dixon is being referred to as a rapist in blue and he could be going to prison for a very long time.

It was last year when the 26-year-old Houston Police officer was arrested for sexually assaulting at least 2 women in north west Houston.

Dixon, a 2-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, used his authority to detain and sexually assault the women, investigators said.

On Friday morning, a Harris County jury returned a guilty verdict on 2 counts of Sexual Assault against the police officer.

Prosecutors paraded a string of women into the court to tell how they were victimized by Dixon.

One woman told jurors that Dixon forced her to strip nude and told her to spread.

Another woman testified, "I was forced to perform oral sex on him. I didn't ask for this. He did this to me."

Dixon faces 2 to 20 years for the convictions.

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Houston Police Investigation Involving Officer Driving Drunk and Colliding With School Bus Under Scrutiny

Houston, Texas

One of HPD's top commanders admits that an investigation into how the crash report was handled wasn't launched until after KTRK-TV started asking questions.

In a previous story, we learned that Sergeant Ruben Trejo had a blood alcohol content of .176 and was driving to work when the crash occurred. It wasn’t until two weeks after, that he was charged with DWI. When police arrived on the scene, bus driver Teresa Argueta explained that the officer appeared to have been intoxicated and claimed she saw open containers in the sergeant's car.

She said, "I tried to take a picture and all the police officers pulled the rug inside. And I tried to take pictures and they said no, go over there." Instead of charging the officer, the bus driver was cited for failure to yield. Previous reports claim witnesses were told they would be arrested if they took photos of the open alcohol containers.

KTRK-TV is reporting internal affairs didn't start investigating the allegations until late last week when Argueta and Eyewitness News began asking questions.

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