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George Floyd was 1 of 100s of cases under review involving cop charged with murder via lying
[previously reported in Texas forum - https://www.democraticunderground.com/107846728 - but the implications of systemic injustice are far wider]
A 16-year-old drug case involving George Floyd was among the hundreds of cases connected to ex-Houston police Officer Gerald Goines that are being reviewed by prosecutors, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Speaking to Khambrel Marshall during an interview that will air on Sunday’s edition of Houston Newsmakers, Ogg said that Floyd, a Houston native who died while being detained by police in Minnesota on Memorial Day, was convicted by Goines as part of a single-witness drug case in 2004.
Cases involving Goines were questioned after he was charged with murder and tampering with a government record in connection with the 2019 raid on a Harding Street home that ended with officers shooting and killing Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. Goines is accused of lying on the affidavit used to obtain the warrant that led to the raid. County prosecutors have said they anticipate having to clear more than 100 cases involving Goines.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/06/05/ogg-case-involving-george-floyd-was-among-goines-cases-being-reviewed-by-prosecutors/
Speaking to Khambrel Marshall during an interview that will air on Sunday’s edition of Houston Newsmakers, Ogg said that Floyd, a Houston native who died while being detained by police in Minnesota on Memorial Day, was convicted by Goines as part of a single-witness drug case in 2004.
Cases involving Goines were questioned after he was charged with murder and tampering with a government record in connection with the 2019 raid on a Harding Street home that ended with officers shooting and killing Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. Goines is accused of lying on the affidavit used to obtain the warrant that led to the raid. County prosecutors have said they anticipate having to clear more than 100 cases involving Goines.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/06/05/ogg-case-involving-george-floyd-was-among-goines-cases-being-reviewed-by-prosecutors/
Goines had been the one and only witness when he arrested Floyd back on Feb. 5, 2004, for supposedly providing him with less than a gram of cocaine. The prosecutor originally offered Floyd two years in prison if he pleaded guilty. Floyd balked, but finally agreed when the offer was reduced to 10 months.
Had he gone to trial, he would have faced serious time. And, as in any case based solely on the word of the arresting officer, it would have come down to whom the jury was going to believe: He said, Cop said.
Goines’ veracity in general was called into question after he was arrested last year. He was alleged to have cited a fictitious informant in securing a search warrant for a house where there was supposed drug dealing. The ensuing raid resulted in Dennis Tuttle and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, being shot to death by police, who also killed their dog. No drugs were found. The couple seems to have been wholly innocent.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gerald-goines-the-monster-cop-who-encountered-george-floyd-in-houston?via=newsletter&source=BI-mid-week-digest
Had he gone to trial, he would have faced serious time. And, as in any case based solely on the word of the arresting officer, it would have come down to whom the jury was going to believe: He said, Cop said.
Goines’ veracity in general was called into question after he was arrested last year. He was alleged to have cited a fictitious informant in securing a search warrant for a house where there was supposed drug dealing. The ensuing raid resulted in Dennis Tuttle and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, being shot to death by police, who also killed their dog. No drugs were found. The couple seems to have been wholly innocent.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gerald-goines-the-monster-cop-who-encountered-george-floyd-in-houston?via=newsletter&source=BI-mid-week-digest
Ogg said that as investigators probed the case, they determined that Goines first lied about using a confidential informant to buy heroin; then claimed to have bought the drugs himself; then lied about who identified the drugs; and finally admitted that he couldn’t determine whether Tuttle was the same person from whom he allegedly purchased the drugs.
Ogg also said that after the shooting, Bryant lied in an offense report about helping Goines with the investigation and falsely claimed that they’d recovered a plastic bag that contained a white napkin and two small packets of heroin.
Because the deaths occurred in the course of another alleged felony — tampering with a government record — Goines was charged with felony murder.
Unlike a regular murder charge, felony murder doesn’t require showing that the defendant intended to kill. Instead, prosecutors just have to show that, while committing another felony, the defendant committed an act clearly dangerous to human life — in this case, the execution of a no-knock warrant — and that it resulted in a death.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Former-HPD-officer-charged-with-murder-in-botched-14373874.php
Ogg also said that after the shooting, Bryant lied in an offense report about helping Goines with the investigation and falsely claimed that they’d recovered a plastic bag that contained a white napkin and two small packets of heroin.
Because the deaths occurred in the course of another alleged felony — tampering with a government record — Goines was charged with felony murder.
Unlike a regular murder charge, felony murder doesn’t require showing that the defendant intended to kill. Instead, prosecutors just have to show that, while committing another felony, the defendant committed an act clearly dangerous to human life — in this case, the execution of a no-knock warrant — and that it resulted in a death.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Former-HPD-officer-charged-with-murder-in-botched-14373874.php
Police burst in the front door, toting weapons and a no-knock warrant. Tuttle, armed with a .357-revolver, rushed to the noise and started shooting.
One of the wounded narcotics officers collapsed on the couch, and Rhogena allegedly reached for his weapon. In the ensuing struggle, she was shot twice and five officers were injured. Though police said they suspected the couple was selling heroin, officers found only 18 grams of marijuana and a little over a gram of cocaine.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/I-want-them-to-clear-her-name-Mother-of-13705640.php
One of the wounded narcotics officers collapsed on the couch, and Rhogena allegedly reached for his weapon. In the ensuing struggle, she was shot twice and five officers were injured. Though police said they suspected the couple was selling heroin, officers found only 18 grams of marijuana and a little over a gram of cocaine.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/I-want-them-to-clear-her-name-Mother-of-13705640.php
Convictions are already getting overturned: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/HPD-drug-cop-goines-pecan-park-raid-case-crack-15234636.php
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