Rhogena Nicholas and her husband, Dennis Tuttle, died with their dog when a tactical team raided their home on January 28, 2019. An official alleges a criminal bought heroin from a man at Tuttle and Nicholas’ home. The officer also claims the man had a gun.
Six officers were indicted last year, including Gerald Goines, who is accused of lying to get a warrant, and Steven Bryant, who is accused of tampering with government records.
Six other officers were charged Monday, according to a statement from Ogg. The officers are facing various charges, including murder, tampering with government records and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Both families said neither Tuttle nor Nicholas were involved in the sale of drugs. According to the complaint of the Tuttle family, the couple is very well known and held by their neighbors.
Mike Doyle, co-adviser to the Nicholas family, told a news conference on Thursday that the complaint had been filed because the statute of limitations was almost up.
Lawyers say families have been searching for answers for 2 years
The complaint, filed by the Nicholas family, cites the city of Houston, police chief Art Acevedo and 13 officers as accused. The Nicholas family’s complaint contains federal civil rights claims against the individual officers for excessive lethal violence and illegal search and seizure, a municipal liability claim against the city and Acevedo, in addition to constitutional claims, including unlawful death and survival.
The Nicholas family has been asking for physical evidence, an explanation and apology from Acevedo for 18 months, Doyle told CNN by telephone on Thursday.
‘They have been placed in a position where the only way we can get to the bottom or top of what’s really going on and continue in this city and with this police department is by filing a civil action. , ‘Doyle said.
John Nicholas, Rhogena Nicholas’ brother, said the death of his 86-year-old mother, who survived Covid-19, was difficult. He said she would continue until she got answers about her daughters’ death.
“The hardest part I think is for my mom. She still wants to know exactly what happened,” John Nicholas said.
The complaint filed by the Tuttle estate cites the city and 13 officers as accused. The estate has filed claims, including illegal search and seizure, excessive and lethal violence and municipal liability.
Boyd Smith, the Tuttle family lawyer, told CNN on Thursday that Dennis Tuttle, 59, was a veteran of the U.S. Navy who was on medication for a seizure disorder. The charge is that he had no criminal record.
“We tried for two years to get these family answers to their questions and the city stoned us around every turn,” Smith said. “If Dennis shot at officers, it’s because he – as a law-abiding citizen without heroin in his house – thought his house was being attacked by criminals. He had the right to fight back if that happened.”
“I have repeatedly said that the other officers involved in the incident, including the officer charged today, had no involvement in obtaining the warrant and responded appropriately to the deadly threat they posed during the service. , “said Acevedo, adding that all current active officers charged have been relieved of their duties.
Mayor Sylvester Turner told local media on Thursday he was not going to draw any conclusions about the case because it is being investigated. He did say that there are ‘practices, policies and procedures’ in Houston and that the raid is a case ‘with many complications’.
The mayor also said he finds it unfair to draw any conclusions from any organization based on the actions of some.
“There are a lot of complications and I think you have to be very careful before you come to that conclusion,” Turner said. “At the end of the day, we’ll see where the facts end up.”