Harris County Sheriff’s Office Fires Six for Sexual Misconduct

Houston, Texas

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirms that one deputy, one supervisor and four detention officers had their employment terminated because they had sexual contact with inmates or other employees.

One deputy under investigation has resigned and a supervisor under investigation has chosen retirement.

Sheriff Adrian Garcia spoke publicly about the sexual misconduct of the employees.

"Their actions are inexcusable because it was crystal clear to all of our employees that this kind of conduct is wrong," Garcia said. "The laws of Texas, the rules of the Sheriff’s Office, our training programs and common sense all say so."

The fired deputy has been indicted on a criminal charge, Garcia said.

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Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph Guilty of Rape

Houston, Texas

If you are a cantina waitress, or any other woman in the Houston, Texas area, you are a little safer tonight. Houston police officer and now convicted rapist Abraham Joseph will probably not be on the streets for a good long while.

Thursday, a jury found 29-year-old Abraham Joseph guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Joseph, who has since been fired from HPD, handcuffed and arrested a waitress and another man in January 2011, and drove them away from the cantina where she worked, said investigators. Surveillance photos show Joseph letting the man out at a gas station. The woman said she was then driven to a nearby park at 3 a.m. and repeatedly raped by Joseph.

Prosecutors have suspected Joseph in numerous other rapes as well, which was confirmed by another victim that the jury heard testimony from.

Joseph's wife collapsed into tears when the verdict was read.

The victim also cried, but her tears were for relief. She told reporters that she thanked God because justice had been served.

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Jury Will Hear From Second Rape Victim of Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

Things just got worse for Houston police officer and accused rapist Abraham Joseph. The lingering debate over whether or not to allow other victims to testify has been resolved.

Judge Denise Collins listened intently as prosecutors presented two other women. The first is a woman who worked at the Diamonte night club, the same club where Joseph's accuser also worked. She testified that the former police officer sexually assaulted her twice, and each time he threatened to take her to jail if she didn't cooperate.

The second woman grew emotional on the stand, visibly sobbing as she accused the officer of assaulting her while in uniform in 2010.

After listening to the two women, Judge Collins decided to allow at least one to tell her story in front of the jury. The woman began her testimony Monday afternoon, detailing how Officer Joseph told her she had open warrants, and how she was in fear of being arrested.

The defense was hoping to keep this testimony from the jury.

Two Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrested at Wedding

Keven Meyer

Christopher David Lock

Houston, Texas

Weddings are often stressful events, but one recent wedding in Northwest Houston turned into an all- out catastrophe, thanks to two Harris County Sheriff’s deputies. The funny thing is, one of the deputies was the groom.

Officials said deputies Kevin Meyer, 26, and Christopher David Lock, 32, were arrested on Saturday. Meyer was charged with interfering with the duties of a public servant and Lock was charged with trespassing.

The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office said two deputy constables were working security at the wedding at SPJST Lodge, 1435 Beall, when the owner of the reception hall wanted the festivities to be shut down because they got out of hand.

Bride Raquel Gonzales said her father-in-law approached a man, who he thought was the manager, to ask him to resume serving alcohol. Gonzales said her father-in-law put his hand on the man's shoulder, not knowing that he was a Precinct 1 deputy constable out of uniform. Apparently, that particular deputy went all Barney Fife, accusing the father-in-law that he was assaulting a peace officer and would be arrested. Precinct 1 officials said that the father-in-law pushed the deputy constable.

When another deputy constable went to arrest the father, Meyer, who was the groom, walked over to one of the deputy constables and was told to stay out of the situation or he would be arrested. Lock came over next and deputy constables told him to leave, Gonzales said. She said Lock called his own supervisor, who advised him to stay. Meyer and Lock were both arrested. Precinct 1 officials said Meyer and Lock interfered with the father-in-law's arrest.

Meyer and Lock have posted bond and are due in court on Friday.

Meyer works in the Detention Unit. Lock is a patrol officer.

At a news conference Monday, Meyer's attorney, Jed Silverman, said the deputy constables at the reception refused to listen to any of the other witnesses. Silverman said he and Meyers plan to fight the charges and Meyers hopes to return to work soon.

Outrage Continues After Houston Police Kill Double Amputee in Wheelchair Armed With Ball-Point Pen

Houston, Texas

Following last week’s fatal shooting of a mentally ill, double-amputee in a wheelchair, armed with a ball-point pen by Houston police officer Matthew Marin, the questions continue to multiply. Brian Claunch, the disabled man, was shot in the head by officer Marin.

One of the biggest questions is, how did a man with one arm and one leg in a wheelchair manage to corner a Houston police officer? And why did another officer reach for his gun, rather than his Taser?

Even Houston Mayor Annise Parker has questions. "I don't know why a CIT officer was not dispatched," said the mayor. She is speaking of a Crisis Intervention Team officer, specially trained to handle similar situations.

At City Hall on Wednesday, elected officials asked for restraint.

Local organizations are speaking out about the incident, which follows other questionable actions at the hands of the Houston Police Department. Remember the Chad Holley case?

"I'm sick and tired of the same old thing from our police departments here in Houston. We want some action, we want the truth, we want the secrecy stopped. We want to see everything being done in this case, future cases, and past cases," said Arlene Kelly with Civilians Down. Civilians Down is a local organization that focuses on police-related shootings.

Since the first of this year, there have been 22 officer-involved shootings in Houston. That's compared to 15 in all of last year. Of those 22, ten suspects or citizens were killed, 13 were injured.

HPD Officer Abraham Joseph’s Rape Trial Resumes

Accused Rapist and Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

The trial of Houston police officer Abraham Joseph has resumed, with jurors hearing evidence of his police cruiser’s GPS information from the night of the alleged rape. They also got a chance to see photos of the victim’s injuries.

Former Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a park while he was on duty.

Jurors learned that Joseph did not make a check-in call, which is standard operating procedures when transporting a female. An investigator noted that Joseph never told dispatch he had picked up anybody.

He said, "Since I've been on the department for 28 years, it's always been grilled into me, that you get a time check when you have a female in custody. It's to protect the officer against allegations of wrongdoing."

A bigger problem for the defense may come with the judge’s next ruling. Prosecutors claim there are several additional women ready to take the stand and tell the jury Joseph raped them. The judge will rule on whether to allow jurors to hear their testimony.

According to KTRK-TV legal analyst Joel Androphy, "This is devastating testimony," he said. "If this comes in, he's toast."

The decision on whether to allow that testimony is expected on Monday.

Houston Police Department Has Some Explaining To Do After Killing Double-Amputee in a Wheelchair

Houston, Texas

We knew (or hoped) there would be more to the story involving the killing of a double-amputee in a wheelchair by Houston Police.

Fortunately, community activists have stepped forward and are demanding answers.

According to Houston police, an officer responded to a domestic disturbance complaint at a group home on Polk and Sidney in southwest Houston around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said the person in charge of the home said the man inside, Brian Claunch, 45, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was threatening other residents.

"When officers arrived and went inside to speak to him, he was situated in a wheelchair holding an unknown object," said Jodi Silva with the Houston Police Department.

Claunch was in a wheelchair because he had lost his right arm and leg in a train accident.

The officers said Claunch was swinging the shiny object in a threatening manner towards them. Investigators said the officers told Claunch to drop the object, but he refused. Police said five-year veteran Matthew Marin then fired his gun at Claunch, shooting him in the head.

The Greater Houston Coalition for Justice is calling on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to launch a full investigation of "patterns and practices of civil rights violations by the Houston Police Department against minorities and others." The Texas Civil Rights Project has also demanded an open investigation.

"This killing is very disturbing," Texas Civil Rights Project director and attorney Amin Alehashem said. "HPD has not explained how or why two officers responding to a routine call came to feel threatened by a by a man in a wheelchair with two limbs and a pen. There are far too many questions left unanswered today for the public to blindly accept HPD's assurances that the shooting of this man in a wheelchair was justified."

And this isn’t the first time Houston police officer Matthew Marin has fatally used his weapon in uniform. Houston police records indicate that Marin also fatally shot a suspect in 2009.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker released a statement about the shooting.

"I want to express my condolences to Mr. Claunch's family and friends. As for any comment on the circumstances, there is a process in place to determine if the officer acted appropriately. In addition to the usual internal review, Chief McClelland has taken the additional step of asking the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) within the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor our investigation of this incident. Until the facts are in place, it is premature to draw any conclusions. I have utmost respect for the very difficult job of our Houston Police Department. However, if there were mistakes made, I know the police chief will take appropriate action," Parker said.

And, in the meantime, if you are anywhere in the vicinity of Houston police officer Matthew Marin, we would suggest you only use a feather pen.