At least not in the way the Houston Police Department have lead you to believe.
Apparently Narcotics Officer Gerald Goines, a 34 year Veteran of the force, may have fabricated the lead in order to acquire the "No Knock" warrant that lead to the slaughter of 2 innocent civilians and their beloved dog.
Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were gunned down in their Harding Street home after plain clothed officers forced their way in, shot their dog and in an attempt to protect themselves from these "home invaders," they fought back like any "Texan" probably would have. After the first plain clothes officer entered the home and shot the dog, Dennis Tuttle opened fire on the man who shot his dog. A second man entered the home and shot Rhogena Nicholas as she was attempting to disarm the man who had just shot and killed their dog. At this point fearing for his life and witnessing the murder of his family, retired Navy Veteran Dennis Tuttle open fire and shot 3 more officers before being senselessly murdered by so called "police" who invaded his own home.
Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas had lived in the house for over 20 years. Their neighbors, despite the reports by the Houston Police Union President that they were "scum bags," had nothing bad to say about the couple. They were relatively quite, kept to themselves and in no way did the home have traffic that an obvious drug house would present. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo claimed that a neighbor had the "courage" to contact police and say "We're not going to put up with this. We think that they're dealing dope out of this house," but as it turns out Acevedo was misinformed.
Houston Narcotics Officer Steven Bryant worked along side Gerald Goines to obtain the search warrant and act out the "No Knock" murders and now investigators are unveiling the truth behind why the event took a deadly turn. Details have emerged that have lead to Bryant being suspended and a warrant being made on his cellphone records. Usually in a case such as this, the narcotics officers have data on their conversations with their informants but so far neither of the 2 informants that Goines and Bryant have claimed to have been working with even exist.
Goines was one of the 4 officers that had been shot by Tuttle who returned fire with a revolver and not the "9mm" that the ghost informant claimed was in the home previous to the house being raided. There has been no information released on whether the investigation has lead to Officer Goines being suspended or having his cell phone searched for any clues that will later lead to the conviction of these corrupt individuals.
So far the only "Confidential Informant" that these men had spoken with was Rhogena Nicholas' mother who was concerned about her 58 year old daughter doing drugs. The warrant was obtained under false pretenses which lead officers to illegally enter the home and shoot to kill 2 innocent people. No Black Tar Heroin was found, no 9mm hand gun was owned by the couple, and to top it off this information was never real in the first place. All of the evidence these officers used in order to conduct a "No Knock" investigation was fabricated. It seems as though these officers were looking for some excitement and for some reason either they knew what the end scenario was going to be, or they stupidly did not expect a homeowner in Texas (who was also a Veteran) would have guns in his home to protect his family from violence that could one day break down their door and force them to defend.
I question the loyalty of these officers. I wonder about the drug war that has gripped this area of Texas and these officers connections to other drug dealing affiliates. Who's side are they on? Have they been working to protect another drug lord by process of elimination of other competing dealers? These are questions that need to be addressed in all of our criminal investigations. This type of "stuff" doesn't only happen in the "movies."
The cries from the Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and from Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, regarding the criticism of officers and the "target they carry on their backs" has simply been an illusion of the facts. The "suspects" in this case were the victims and the police officers that were injured or shot were the true criminals. It's disgusting that we can allow things like this to happen to good people. These officers should be charged to the full extent of the law just like the supposed "criminals" that they apprehend. Someone needs to watch the "watchers." And not only in Law Enforcement but in our publicly appointed positions as well. Our Union Presidents and our Police Chiefs should not be allowed to hold a press conference to defend their department until they receive ALL OF THE FACTS. Just like the case in Florida of Deputy O’Leary and his 11 unfounded cases of drug possession that turned out to be manufactured results leading to the release of the suspects, along with all charges, and with his firing.
We can't continue to let the "Ruling Class" win. We can not continue to accept that these civilians wearing badges have control over us and can demand we treat them as authoritarians. The last time I checked they were not above the law and were employed by the people to work for the people as public "servants." Albeit these officers put their lives at risk everyday but apparently, so do we from them.