Harris County Deputy Diva?

Investigation Underway Involving Harris County DA’s Office, HPD and Potentially Bad DWI Evidence

Four Harris County Assistant DA's Subpoenaed in BAT Van Investigation

Houston, Texas

A secret grand jury investigation has been underway, examining how the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney handled potentially bad DWI evidence in connection with the use of HPD BAT vans. These are mobile units used for breathalyzer tests. Well, it looks like that investigation is moving closer to the Harris County DA’s Office.

Harris County DA Pat Lykos

On Tuesday morning, local television station KTRK exclusively confirmed a Harris County Grand Jury subpoenaed four Assistant District Attorneys as part of its ongoing investigation into the HPD BAT van issues. The four are all prosecutors who handled DWI cases since the BAT vans were used.

While the grand jury proceedings are secret, legal analyst Joel Androphy says it is clear to him grand jurors are trying to figure out when the DA's Office knew about BAT van maintenance issues and what they did with the information.

In a very rare move, this grand jury is conducting its own investigation without the assistance of the District Attorney. Two Assistant DA’s were tossed out of a grand jury room last week under the threat of arrest.

According to KTRK, a special independent prosecutor will be named to the Grand Jury investigation. This could be seen as a blow to the public trust in the DA's Office. It comes hours after the four prosecutors were subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. The target of the investigation is still secret, but it's becoming clear jurors are at least looking into what the DA's Office knew about potential bad DWI evidence and if they covered it up.

Houston Police Officer Charged With DWI

Sgt. Roy Marquez

Houston, Texas

A Houston police officer who was driving while intoxicated when he ran a red light and hit a car in Pasadena was charged Tuesday, according to court records.

Sgt. Roy Alexander Marquez, 37, a 10-year police veteran, has been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of an internal affairs division investigation, Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva said.

Marquez, a member of HPD's traffic enforcement division which handles DWI investigations, was charged with driving while intoxicated and carrying a weapon in his car when he ran a red light at Red Bluff and Frontage Road, off of Beltway 8, about 1:10 a.m. Sunday, which was his birthday.

He received the gun charge because it is illegal to carry a handgun in a motor vehicle while engaging in criminal activity.

Chambers County Deputy Charged With Sexually Assaulting A Child

Houston, Texas

 A deputy from Chambers County has been arrested for sexually assaulting a child.

Deputy Gabriel Davila worked as a sergeant at the county jail since 2003. He’s since been terminated, according to the county.

The only details about the victim, released by the sheriff’soffice, indicate that the sexual assault involves a family member.

Davila was arrested on Thursday night and is being indicted on two counts -- one with ‘aggravated sexual assault to a child’ and another with ‘indecency with a child,’ according to the district attorney’s office.

Houston Police Officer Arrested in Pill Mill Operation

Houston, Texas

Over the last 10 months, the Harris County District Attorney's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted an investigation on an illegal operation in Houston, involving a veteran officer of the Houston Police Department.

It began back in December, when Houston’s Fox 26 reported that Houston Police officer Daniel Muhammad was a chief target in the investigation. He was accused of owning and operating at least two pill mills.

He’s accused of distributing controlled substances like Xanax and Vicodin for those who may not actually be sick.

At the start of the investigation, Officer Muhammad's close friends just didn't buy the allegations leveled against the 10-year veteran of the force.

A former HPD colleague Shelby Stewart says, "The Danny Muhammad I know is a highly intelligent man. The allegations are hard for me to believe."

Muhammad was placed in handcuffs this week, along with 34-year-old physician and motivational speaker Dr. Akili Graham.

Investigators say he was the front man for the pain clinic while those without a medical license actually distributed the pills to those who walked through these doors.

The District Attorney’s office targeted four clinics in the area that were allegedly operated by Muhammad, Graham and others: Preferred Medical, Imed, Umat, and the Oaks Medical Clinics.

In all, 13 people were arrested in the investigation. That includes another doctor and at least two pharmacy store owners.

Muhammad has been relieved of duty from the Houston Police Department and remains the target of an internal investigation.

Houston Police Officers Accused of Beating Again

Severely Beaten Man Claims HPD Cops Did it: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Houston, Texas

It looks like the Houston Police Department is facing more allegations of police brutality. This, of course, comes as no surprise to Houstonians. After numerous incidents over the past year and the well-publicized surveillance video depicting officers beating teen Chad Holley.

In the latest incident, Anthony Childress is stepping forward and providing the details of an encounter with police. Sure he has tattoos, a criminal background and has spent time behind bars. However, he says that doesn’t justify the actions of Houston police officers.
He says he was riding his bike on the sidewalk in the 2300 block of Delano. That’s when two squad cars pulled up and he heard someone yell hay.

The beating, according to Childress, occurred while he stood with his hands behind his back.

"The Spanish cop he hit me with his elbow in my mouth and the tall Caucasian cop hit me in my eye and then when I hit the ground it was all four cops on me."

Childress ended up at Ben Taub Hospital. Medical documentsstate he was attacked and assaulted.
Childress was not charged with resisting arrest or assaulting a cop. An HPD spokesman confirms an internal affairs investigation is now underway.

Harrison Co. Deputy Eddie Nichols Fired After Alleged Sexual Indecency With Child

Harrison County, Texas

Sharon Nichols, who was charged with indecency with a child Friday along with her husband, sheriff’s deputy and local pastor Eddie Nichols, was fired Tuesday from her position as deputy county clerk.

Harrison County officials were notified Thursday by a Texas State Technical College police officer of an incident involving a deputy and his wife that was reported to them by a school counselor.

The incident was reported by a juvenile female student to a counselor regarding inappropriate sexual contact. Once the Sheriff’s Office was notified, the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and Child Protection Services of East Texas were immediately notified and an investigation began into the allegations.

After interviews, warrants were obtained by the District Attorney’s Office for the arrest of Deputy Nichols and his wife, Sharon Nichols, on charges of sexual indecency with a child by contact. The charges are a 2nd degree felony, and both were arrested and placed in jail.

Eddie Nichols was arraigned and a bond of $200,000 was placed on him. He is currently in the Harrison County Jail. Sharon Nichols was arraigned and a bond of $100,000 was placed on her. She has been released from jail.

Deputy Nichols has been terminated.