Deputy trying to make arrest kills man and dog

Lawman says suspect grabbed Taser and told pit bull to attack him

By CINDY HORSWELL

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

April 9, 2010, 9:54PM

A Harris County sheriff's deputy fatally shot a man Friday morning after the two struggled at the man's home near Humble, officials said.

The deputy was investigating an assault at a sports bar and had gone to the home of Christopher Lee Brooks, officials with the sheriff's office said. When the deputy tried to arrest Brooks, the 26-year-old man became combative, leading to a struggle and the fatal shooting, officials said.

The sheriff's office did not release the name of the deputy, but said he is a 19-year veteran on the force.

Brooks died at his house. The deputy also shot and killed the man's pit bull, which authorities reported was acting agitated and aggressive toward the deputy.

According to investigators, the deputy had gone to Brooks' two-story brown brick home in the 3800 block of Beckett Ridge while investigating an earlier incident at Mulligan's sports bar and restaurant, which was recently been renamed Coaches, on FM 1960.

Witnesses said Brooks had "punched out another customer and continued to beat him until he was unconscious," said Harris County Sheriff's Sgt. Ben Bell. Authorities said the other patron did not require hospitalization.

What triggered the fight, which broke out about 12:15 a.m., remains unknown. Witnesses reported seeing nothing that would have provoked the confrontation, Bell said.

The bar manager told authorities he had to pull Brooks off the man and then tried to keep him there until law officers arrived.

" But Brooks spun around and hit the manager, too, before bolting out the door," said Bell.

Taser was "ineffective"

The deputy went to Brooks' house and knocked on the door. Investigators said Brooks answered with a loaded rifle, but the deputy talked him into setting it aside.

Brooks became combative againwhen the deputy tried to arrest him, authorities said.

At one point the deputy tried to use his Taser on Brooks, but it was "ineffective," officials said. During the struggle, Brooks continuously commanded his pit bull to attack the deputy, officials said. Brooks then grabbed the Taser and placed it against the deputy's body.

The deputy told authorities that faced with the threat of being incapacitated by the Taser and attacked by the dog, and with the rifle nearby, he was forced to fire his weapon, officials said. He also shot and killed the dog.

Brooks' wife, who was at home at the time of the shooting, was too distraught to talk, her family said. The couple also had a young toddler, who was spending the night with his grandparents when the shots were fired, neighbors said.

Dog described as docile

His neighbors described Brooks as quiet and friendly and never causing trouble during the two years that he and his family lived there.

" I can't believe this," said Roland Kyle, a nearby neighbor. "They're real nice people. I went over and played pool in their garage with them a couple of times."

The pit bull was always on a leash or staked on a chain in the front yard but was docile enough to be petted by the children on the street, neighbors said.

Court records show Brooks had misdemeanor convictions for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license.

The Harris County District Attorney and sheriff's inspector general are investigating the incident, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.

 

cindy.horswell@chron.com