Sergeant who sustained knee injury during shooting released from hospital
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Two Houston police officers remain in the hospital Friday, after being injured in Monday's shootout at a southeast Houston home.
On Friday, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the sergeant who sustained a knee injury was released from the hospital.
The chief said the two officers with the most serious wounds are stable but have a long road for recovery. He asks for continued prayers for all impacted and their families.
A 33-year-old officer who was shot in the shoulder was discharged Monday, and a 50-year-old police veteran who was shot in the face was discharged Tuesday afternoon.
The undercover narcotics officers were attempting to serve a search warrant on Harding Street near Berkley Street just before 5 p.m. Monday.
The first officer in the house got hit and then bullets started flying.
The 54-year-old officer leading the operation stormed in and got hit too. It was his third time being shot during his 32 years on the job.
"I'm just gonna say it. He just passed a note to one of us and it said, 'I had to get in there. I knew my guys were down.' And that speaks volumes to this man and his courage under fire," said Chief Acevedo.
All five of the injured narcotics officers were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center, at least two of them were transported by Life Flight medical helicopter. Four officers suffered gunshot wounds and another suffered a knee injury.
Houston police have confirmed that two suspects died at the crime scene. Police identified the married suspects as Rhogena Nicholas, 58, and Dennis Tuttle, 59. Police say Tuttle fired at officers and Nicholas tried to grab an officer's gun.
The suspects' quick reactions make some believe they knew police were coming.
"A lot of these drug houses have surveilance systems that are better than other businesses," said Acevedo.
He declined to identify the injured officers, but Acevedo did offer the following information on their years of service and condition:
Chief Acevedo says the undercover narcotics officers went to the home on Harding after previously purchasing black tar heroin there. Authorities say black tar heroin was not found inside the house, but they did find rifles, shotguns, pistols, as well as marijuana and a white powder that could be cocaine or fentanyl.
Mayor Turner visited the hospitalized officers on Tuesday, and says this underscores the need for tougher laws and more cops.
"We need more police officers. There is no question about that," said Mayor Turner. "We have 5,200 police officers for 640-square miles."
He says we need 600 more officers.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released the following statement on Monday regarding the shooting:
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released the following statement on Monday night regarding the shooting: