No Knock Warrants Lead to Trouble For Houston Police

Houston police department comes the decision to remove no-knock warrants completely.

No Knock Warrants Lead to Trouble For Houston Police

By Princess Sinkambe, Staff Writer

On January 28 a deadly drug raid conducted by the Houston Police Department left officers wounded and two people died when a no-knock warrant was in place. The warrant itself allows police officers to enter a property without announcing their arrival beforehand. The Houston community and activists alike gathered on Monday night to voice their concerns.

The officer obtained the warrant after the raid and through the investigation, weed and a white powdery substance, which was believed to be cocaine, was found.

At a town hall meeting held by the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice, Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg faced heated tension and complaints from the attendants of the meeting.

According to KPRC Click2Houston, “What charge is going to be presented will be based on the evidence and the evidence is still being collected,” Ogg told the audience, who soon after booed the official.

Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were reported to be shot at by the police officers who only fired due to the couple’s first shots that had been fired at them. The community and others claim that the couple wouldn’t  have shot first if they had known it was the police

After much debate and heated argument, Acevedo stated that Houston won’t be using no-knock warrants at all anymore.

According to CNN, “The no-knock warrants are going to be going away … and so you’re going to see some changes very quickly on that.” Acevedo went on to say, “You’re going to see those going away like leaded gasoline.”

Acevedo reassured attendants of the meeting that the police department is taking responsibility and accountability. Acevedo continues to say that the officer who obtained the warrant will most likely suffer consequences.