HOUSTON — Sunday marks five years since the deadly raid that left a couple dead after Houston police attempted to serve a no-knock warrant at a home on Harding Street.
On Saturday, many people stood along Travis Street outside of the Houston Police Department's headquarters, demanding accountability for the officers involved in the death of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle. Those close to the families of the victims said time has not made the reality any easier.
“[Rhogena’s] mom is 90 years old. She is hanging on to bring justice for her daughter,” said Hai Bui with the activist group We The People Organize.
The City of Houston, HPD and several of its former officers got the brunt of the anger from protestors.
“Five years later, no one’s gone to trial on a serious felony charge, [former HPD officer] Gerald Goines is out there enjoying his freedom,” Dr. David Michael Smith told KHOU.
Goines is facing felony murder charges in the raid. He’s also accused of falsifying evidence to secure a ‘no-knock warrant’ on the home. That raid ended in a shootout which left the couple dead and several officers injured.
Just this week, the Houston City Council approved an additional $1.7 million to defend the city and its former police chief Art Acevedo in a federal lawsuit brought by the family members of the victims.
“To quote a lawyer representing the families,' Why would you try to defend the indefensible?'” Smith said.
Activists said Tuttle and Nicholas’ deaths are part of a pattern of police-involved tragedies that shouldn’t be left in the dark.
“We the people, all my friends here, we are trying to keep the name[s] alive, because the city wants us to go away,” Bui said.
Former HPD officer Steven Bryant pleaded guilty to federal charges of falsifying documents in connection to this case. Felix Gallegos, a former HPD officer, is also charged with murder and fired the shot that killed Dennis Tuttle, according to court documents. Ten other officers face charges connected to the raid.
Patricia Ann Garcia, a woman who called 911 with false claims that the couple were drug dealers, was also charged in connection to the raid. No drugs were ever found in the house.