HOUSTON -- The widow of a man gunned down by Houston police after a high-speed chase Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the Houston Police Department on Friday. Susan Carnaby claims the chase that lead to her husband’s death was unnecessary and that police failed to follow proper chase procedures.

The wife’s attorney revealed that Roland Carnaby was shot in the back by police, who said they opened fire on the man because they saw the man reach for something shinny – possibly a gun – after he had exited his vehicle. Carnaby led police on a high-speed chase after he had been pulled over for speeding.

Houston police confirmed that the officer who pulled over Carnaby was about to arrest the 52-year-old Pearland man on suspicion that he was impersonating a federal agent.

Carnaby had presented identification that indicated he was with the CIA to the HPD officer who had pulled him over on Highway 288 near Orem Tuesday afternoon. Houston police said the officer made several calls trying to confirm if the identification was legit, to the point that superiors said Carnaby should be arrested for impersonating a federal agent.

It was during that verification of Carnaby’s identification that the self-proclaimed CIA operative sped off.

Photo provided by Carnaby family

Randall Kallinen, Mrs. Carnaby’s attorney, called the chase of Mr. Carnaby, “silly,” and accused Houston police of failing to follow acceptable chase policies. He also accused police of not rendering medical aid to Carnaby after he had been shot.

"He lay on the ground, bled to death, a massive bleeding while officers had him handcuffed and administered no aid whatsoever,” said Kallinen, shortly after filing the lawsuit.

But Dr. Paul Radelat, who examined Carnaby’s body on behalf of the family told 11 News that the gunshot wound to his back was so devastating, that even if he had been in the “lobby of a hospital,” when he was shot he would likely have not survived.

Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Carnaby and just who he is continues. Friends and family said Carnaby has for years presented himself as having worked for the CIA. He even had a series of mementos and plaques that indicated he was a member of the U.S. intelligence community.

He was also the president of a local chapter of an intelligence officer’s association. While an officer in the Houston chapter of the Association for Intelligence Officers, the association’s national office identified him as an “associate” member.

The association has several classifications for members including designations for confirmed current and past members of the intelligence community. Associate members are considered to not have been an intelligence operative or agent, but rather citizens who support the intelligence community.