BY HOLLIE SILVERMAN AND AMIR VERA, CNN | POSTED ON JAN 28, 2021
(CNN) — The families of a man and woman killed in a botched police raid in Houston have filed lawsuits against the city and police department, according to two separate complaints filed Wednesday.
Rhogena Nicholas and her husband Dennis Tuttle were killed along with their dog when a tactical team raided their home on January 28, 2019. An officer alleged a criminal informant bought heroin from a man at Tuttle and Nicholas’ home. The officer also alleged the man had a gun.
Four police officers were shot during the raid, leaving one paralyzed, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. As a result of the raid and the investigation that followed, 12 officers have now been indicted.
Six officers were indicted last year, including Gerald Goines, who is accused of lying to obtain a warrant, and Steven Bryant, who is accused of tampering with government records.
Six other officers were indicted Monday, according to a statement from Ogg. Those officers face a variety of charges including murder, tampering with government records and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Both families said neither Tuttle and Nicholas were involved in selling drugs. The couple was well known and liked by their neighbors, according to the Tuttle family complaint.
Mike Doyle, co-counsel for the Nicholas family, said during a news conference Thursday the complaint was filed because the statute of limitations is almost up.
Read more at https://www.kmov.com/families-of-couple-killed-in-botched-houston-police-raid-file-lawsuit-against-city-and-police/article_b6bbbaeb-823f-5c05-b259-e8650edfabb3.html.
