Former Houston police officer Gerald Goines has been convicted of murder for his role in a deadly 2019 no-knock drug raid that resulted in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. Goines falsified an affidavit to justify the raid, falsely claiming he had purchased heroin from the couple’s home.
Tuttle, a Navy veteran, fired at officers, believing he was defending his home from criminals. The resulting shootout killed both Tuttle and Nicholas. Prosecutors argued that Goines’ lies directly caused their deaths, with no significant drugs found at the scene. Goines faces life in prison and federal civil rights charges for his role in falsifying the search warrant.
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Initially praised by the Houston Police Department, Goines’ role in the raid has since sparked outrage. The trial highlighted the dangers of no-knock raids and prompted widespread scrutiny of law enforcement practices in Houston. This case has reignited debate over the use of aggressive police tactics and the reliability of search warrant affidavits.
In addition to the murder conviction, Goines now faces federal charges for civil rights violations due to the falsified search warrant. The sentencing phase has begun, and he could face life in prison.
Karah Rucker: FORMER HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER, GERALD GOINES, WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER FOLLOWING A DEADLY HARDING STREET RAID IN 2019.
GOINES LED A NO-KNOCK DRUG RAID THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF DENNIS TUTTLE AND RHOGENA NICHOLAS, A COUPLE ACCUSED OF DEALING DRUGS. GOINES OBTAINED A WARRANT, FALSELY CLAIMING HE HAD PURCHASED HEROIN FROM THEIR HOME. WHEN POLICE STORMED THE HOUSE, TUTTLE, THINKING HE WAS DEFENDING HIS HOME FROM INTRUDERS, FIRED AT THE OFFICERS, PROMPTING A DEADLY SHOOTOUT.
Robert Antu, neighbor of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas:
“The police already had the door open and I seen that three officers are laying down. They were there on the ground, their partners were dragging them away from that door. But it happened so fast just like that quick, three people were down, three officers were down.”
Karah Rucker: INVESTIGATORS LATER REVEALED THAT GOINES’ AFFIDAVIT WAS BASED ENTIRELY ON FABRICATION. PROSECUTORS ARGUED THAT THE COUPLE WAS UNJUSTLY TARGETED DUE TO FALSE INFORMATION. NO SUBSTANTIAL DRUGS WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE, AND GOINES WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ORCHESTRATING THE RAID THAT LED TO THEIR DEATHS.
THE RAID ALSO SPARKED OUTRAGE IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. AT FIRST… GOINES AND HIS TEAM WERE HAILED AS HEROES FOR THEIR ACTIONS. HOWEVER, ONCE THE TRUTH SURFACED, PUBLIC OPINION SHIFTED AND GOINES WAS CONDEMNED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FATAL EVENT.
IN ADDITION TO THE MURDER CONVICTION, GOINES NOW FACES FEDERAL CHARGES FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DUE TO THE FALSIFIED SEARCH WARRANT. THE SENTENCING PHASE HAS BEGUN, AND HE COULD FACE LIFE IN PRISON.
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