Steve Quayle News Alerts

August 28, 2002

HOUSTON – Thirteen police supervisors were under suspension Tuesday for the arrests of nearly 300 people during a weekend crackdown on illegal drag racing.

The city is facing a $100 million lawsuit because of the raids last Saturday and Sunday in the parking lots at a department store and two fast-food restaurants. They have stirred up a public furor because some those arrested contend they were innocent bystanders.

Police officials are refusing comment on the suspensions because an internal affairs investigation is under way. The city said officers are usually suspended because of "allegations of criminal or serious administrative misconduct."

Capt. Mark Aguirre, the supervisor who ordered the raid, was suspended Saturday, and 12 more officers were suspended Monday in the widening investigation. Aguirre allegedly tried to influence statements of other officers to investigators.

Aguirre's attorney told the Houston Chronicle that Police Chief C.O. Bradford was trying to make his client a scapegoat because of the public anger over the arrests.

The raids were carried out because of drag racing that threatened public safety, according to the officers involved.

Terry Yates, Aguirre's attorney, released portions of video showing drag racing and parking lots crowded with spectators. He said police confiscated a video taken by a 9-year-old passenger in a car traveling 109 mph.

'Proactive Police Work'

"They had to do what is called proactive police work," he told the Chronicle. "I don't think there were innocent people arrested out there."

One of those arrested during the raids filed a $100 million lawsuit in federal court Monday alleging that he was falsely arrested him for attempted trespass. The claim alleges at the time of the arrest it was "obvious" that he had not committed a crime.

The Houston Police Officers Union believes the officers are the victims of the uproar.

"These guys are following what they believe to be lawful orders," Union President Hans Marticiuc said. "Now all of a sudden the carpet's pulled out from underneath them because they were following departmental directives."

Copyright 2002 by United Press International.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/27/182805.shtml