terry denson houston police

The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. In the wake of Torres's death, frustrated residents of Houston's barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. Houston. The judge received dismissed the case without explanation. info@texasarchive.org Terry Denson, 27; Stephen Orlando, 22, and Joseph J. Janish, 22 -- said they do not plan to appeal the . View Terry Denson results in Texas (TX) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. (Houston, Texas) Background of case involving alleged beating of Joe Campos Torres, which resulted in his drowning, by officers Terry Wayne Denson, Stephen Orlando and Joseph Janish given. This edited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV follows the grand jury investigation into the death of Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran. Reuben Bonilla of Corpus Christi, who heads the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Texas, called the verdict "the most deplorable and unconscionable in recent memory," and said he fears Hispanic-American violence unless the Justic Department acts promptly to bring a federal case against the officers. "The environment that created the Torres case continues to exist," Garcia said, "and we can expect a continuation of the same kind of thing.". They were ordered to take him to Ben Taub General Hospital, but instead of doing so, the officers brought him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou and pushed him into the water. One of the counts, involving a violation of Federal civil rights laws in which death results, is a felony, with the maximum sentence life in prison. Torres' death and the light punishment the officers involved received would spark the infamous Moody Park riot one year later. Looters struck the store during a riot that began at Moody Park. For many of the victims they interviewed, the officers presence did make a difference. Janie Torres is the sister of Jose "Joe" Campos Torres, who on May 5, 1977 was beaten and thrown into Buffalo Bayou by Houston police officers. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. Complaints against members of the Houston Police Department may be initiated in person to a supervisor at any police substation throughout the City of Houston, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 110 Twenty-first Avenue South, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. The case, in which the officers could have received sentences of life in prison, has been the focus of many charges of police brutality against Hispanic citizens. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. As the story goes, the 23-year-old was beaten so severely that authorities refused to accept him into the City Jail. His drowned body was found three days later on May 8, 1977 - exactly 40 years ago today. Three days later, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 1977 his dead body was found severely beaten and floating in the Buffalo Bayou, a creek on the outskirts of downtown Houston. You have three options if you'd like to view this item: If you believe that you are associated with a sponsoring college or university and have received this message in error, please let us know. Two former Houston policemen on trial for beating and drowning a Mexican-American prisoner in their custody last May were convicted by a jury today of misdemeanor charges that will cost each no more than a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. . local news and culture, Olivia Flores Alvarez Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Two Houston police officers stand guard over a wrecked convenience store at 3814 Fulton. After learning of Mr. Torres's death, Carless Elliott, a 20yearold rookie police officer who witnessed the incident, reported what he had seen to his superiors. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. Many segments are silent and would have been voiced over by the anchorperson during a live broadcast. Houston firemen fight a blaze which was reportedly set by rioters in the 4400 block of Fulton. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, where jailers refused to process him due to his injuries. Protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found May 8. Three buildings in the shopping center were gutted by the fire. The sentences that Judge Sterling imposed were each one year and one day, but they were set to run concurrently with separate oneyear sentences he imposed on the three men last year for a misdemeanor count of violating the victim's civil rights. info@texasarchive.org Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. Instead of being taken to jail, police took Campos Torres to "The Hole," an isolated area behind a warehouse along Buffalo Bayou where Houston Police Department officers could write reports, question suspects and sleep. Phone 615-322-2927. View other clips in this broadcast . By the time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him due to the extent of his injuries. The convicted former officers are Terry W. Denson, 27, and Stephen Orlando, 22. Service station vandalized by riotersduring riot at Moody Park. In 1978, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Moody Park erupted into riots. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. The department wanted to rebuild its reputation fast. Nonetheless, Garcia said he is distressed by incidents, including the recent shooting deaths of a black police erroneously believed to be an armed robber and of a 16-year-old unarmed Mexican-American burglary suspect. That trial took place in Huntsville, Tex., 70 miles north of Houston, because the defendants had said they could not get a fair trial in Houston. Carless Elliott, the only rookie cop at the scene that night, later recalled in court the words of one of his fellow officers, the last words Torres must have heard before his body plunged into those dark waters: Lets see if this wetback can swim.. Its possible.. On the night of May 5, 1977, Houston police officers arrested Torres at an East End bar for disorderly conduct. HOUSTON, Feb. 8 Three former Houston police officers were found guilty in Federal District Court here today of beating a MeicanAmerican prisoner last May and then pushing him into a downtown bayou, where he drowned. Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Adrian Garcia, former HPD officer and current Harris County commissioner, said some of his friends stopped talking to him when he joined the force, calling him a sellout. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. The former officers have admitted that they beat their handcuffed prisoner for insolence before booking him. Torres subsequently drowned. "'You're not going to take him and do what you did to Joe Campos Torres.". A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. (Two activists, Travis Morales and Mara Youngdahl, were later fined a total of $9,000 on misdemeanor riot charges.). Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. David Courtney, a.k.a. Mr. Elliott later became a prosecution witness at both trials. | 512-485-3073 Vilma Martinez, president of the MexicanAmerican Legal Defense and Educational Fund, also called for the judge's impeachment. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The Justice Department brought civil rights charges against the three after Mr. Denson and Mr. Orlando were acquitted of murder charges in state court. The squads success came from how connected they were to these neighborhoods. Leave them blank to get signed up. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. A convenience store/drive-in grocery at 3814 Fulton is vandalized by riotersin the 1978 Moody Park riots. Reporters interview Harris County District Attorney Carol Vance, Divers search the depths of Buffalo Bayou for Torres' wallet, Protests outside the Harris County Courthouse. In 1977, Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. They're dead, Michael C. Ramsey, one of the defense lawyers, said of the Justice Department's appeal effort, which he termed frivolous. Mr. Ramsey said he considered today's sentences a victory for the additional reason that the three defendants would no longer have to face the five years probation originally imposed by the Judge. The apology to Torres' family was the first by any city official, and Finner promised to work with the family to build a monument in Torres' name. Carlos Calbillo sat on railing next to Buffalo Bayou near Commerce Street Tuesday. New Higher Salaries! On June 28, a Harris County grand jury indicted two of the officers, Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder and a third, J. J. Janisch, for misdemeanor assault. With limited resources and no prior detective training, they faced scrutiny from all sides. The trials drew national attention, and HPDs newly minted internal affairs unit was overwhelmed with complaints. Consider it our city's version of the Ferguson protests. After their conviction in March of last year, Judge Sterling sentenced the three former officers, all of whom were dismissed by the Houston Police Department within hours of the discovery of Mr. Torres's body, to a year in prison on the misdemeanor charge. Margaret Torres, mother of Joe Campos Torres, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Houston police station Oct. 8, 1977 to protest the verdict handed down by a Huntsville jury in the the murder trial of former Houston policemen Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. Hector J. Garcia of Houston, chairman of the Coalition for Responsible Law Enforcement, whose group has been meeting with police officials since last April, said violent police incidents here show no sign of abating. More than 40 people were arrested during the riots, which became nationwide news and led to the creation of HPD's internal affairs department. Members of Houstons Latino community described the light sentences as a slap in the face. On the first anniversary of Torress death, protests reached a fever pitch during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Moody Park. Any time in the penitentiary would be unacceptable, Mr. Bennett said, adding that Mr. Denson was an outstanding public servant to this community.. According to the podcast, between 1950, when the police department hired its first Hispanic officer, and 1970, HPD had hired fewer than 20 Hispanic officers. Sometimes it's our sports teams, sometimes it's the happenings over at NASA, a breakthrough at the Medical Center or our atrocious weather that's in the headlines. Five months after Torress murder, an all-white jury found Denson and Orlando guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanor. 09/13/1977 - Fired HPD officer Terry Denson, right, arrives for court at the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University where his trial for the May 6 murder of Joe Campos . Powerful Commons committee could look at case for banning stoves in towns and Love Island hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints from furious viewers over 'toxic femininity' row and Movie Carrie Johnson joins campaign for Joanna Simpson's killer BA pilot husband who bludgeoned her to death with 'I don't know if I can trust them': Mel B reveals she 'wouldn't call the police' over domestic violence - Houston police chief Troy Finner formally apologizes to family of Joe Campos Torres over 1977 death - ABC13 Houston, Do not sell or share my personal information. Police officers seen outside emergency entrance of Memorial Hermann following the fatal shooting of an on-duty Houston Police Department officer Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Houston. He's gone. It's never had its own day, but is definitely something that should be remembered, a lesson of Houston history and among Mexican-Americans. Judge Sterling, who issued the sentences today without comment, was appointed to the Federal bench by President Ford in 1976. A local boat operator called the police, identifying Torres by the military dog tags still hanging around his neck. His body would end up in the Buffalo Bayou, where it was found three days later. The three former officers, Terry W. Denson, 29 years old, Joseph J. Janish, 25 and Stephen Orlando, 24, were found guilty in Judge Sterling's court last year of responsibility for the death by. Federal prosecutors termed the verdict a compromise, noting that the defendants were not found guilty of additional charges that they had conspired to obstruct justice by withholding information about the incident from Federal investigators. According to the Houston Police Department, officers spotted a black Honda Accord that was reported stolen out of College Station at about 5:10 p.m. near Fairbanks North Houston and West Little York. The arresting officers took him to a place dubbed 'the hole,' an area behind a warehouse along the Buffalo Bayou, and beat him before taking Torres to the city jail. It is the headquarters for the Texas prison system. The three former officers are to be sentenced late next month. Testimony indicated that Oralando, who drove the patrol car in which Torres was transported, had encouraged Denson by "this would be a good time" to see if "the wetback" could swim. Family members and friends of his are working to win approval of historical markers at Moody Park to commemorate Torres' death and the community's reaction. On June 28, a Harris County grand jury indicted two of the officers, Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder and a third, J. J. Janisch, for misdemeanor assault. Become a member to support the independent voice of Houston Mr. Torres's body was found in a Houston bayou on May 9, 1977, two days after he was arrested by Mr. Denson and other officers in a latenight barroom disturbance. Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder. In their barrios, things werent much better. Each to Serve Extra Day for Roles in Suspect's Death Judge Assailed as Too Lenient. The former policemen had been on trial in connection with the drowning death of her son. This is a carousel. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Jerry Click/ Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 35 of 56 Houston police officers administer first aid to Officer Tommy A. Britt, injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington . State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. They couldnt fail. Houston firemen put out fire of burning car flipped during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. City officials vowed to memorialize Torres in some way, The worst thing for her, she said was that, 'No matter how many apologies we get, it can never change the fact because Joe, at the end, never got justice.'. According to sworn testimony, the officers then spreadeagled the prisoner against a patrol car, and Mr. Denson, after some discussion of what to do with the prisoner, said, Let's see if this wetback can swim. The prosecutors contended that Mr. Denson then pushed Mr. Torres into the bayou. This unedited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the Houston Police Department headquarters on May 16, 1977. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. (Studio) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody. Articles about the drowning of Joe Campos Torres appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 15, 1977. Five of the officers were charged in the death, with two convicted of negligent homicide, and the other three convicted of violating Torres' civil rights. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Carlos Calbillo sits on railing near Buffalo Bayou near Commerce Street, the area where his friend Joe Campos Torres was killed by police in 1977. His body was found on May 8Mother's Day. "Let's see if the wetback can swim." With those words, Officer. The violence May 7 left five police officers and two newsmen injured, and several stores in the area burned or looted. Hernandez, Raymond Gonzalez, and Jose Selvera Jr. On top of their translating work in the field, the squad was also tasked with investigating 52 cases that experienced detectives on the force hadnt been able to crack. It goes to show how those moments of crisis and scandal within our public institutions become important opportunities for forward-looking leaders. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. The Cavaliers said . Garcia said there had been progress in that Chief Harry Caldwell has required officers to register the extra weapons they carry with them, has banned the use of "long rifles" such as deer rifles, and has forbidden officers to shoot at fleeing suspects who aren't threatening their safety or that of others. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican-American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. On an overcast evening in early May 1977, 23-year-old Vietnam War veteran Jose Campos Torres was in handcuffs for drunk and disorderly conduct at a cantina in Houstons East End. A third officer, J.J. 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A lot has changed since 1979 at HPD, but community policing is really important, Moravec says. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/31/archives/3-former-officers-sentenced-in-texas-each-to-serve-extra-day-for.html. 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105 In 1977 Joe Campos Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. See the article in its original context from. The girl's parents told the police they went to sleep at about 11 p.m. Saturday, and when . After a jail booking officer refused to accept Torres because of his injuries and ordered him taken to a hospital, the officers returned to the secluded spot, where one of them allegedly pushed him over a 17-foot embankment into the water after saying, "Let's see if this wetback can swim.". In the wake of Torress death, frustrated residents of Houstons barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. Two of the officers who had beaten Torres, Terry W. Denson and Stephen. Robert Bennett, attorney for Mr. Denson, who had been specifically charged with pushing Mr. Torres into the water, said that he would argue against a prison sentence for his client. In 2010, because HPDs increasingly diverse workforce now includes a higher number of Spanish-speaking officers, the group was disbanded. On January 15, according to a $100,000 damage suit filed by Robert and Alice Gleason, N. W. Holloway and his partner J. T. Olin were among several other cops who stormed into their Pasadena trailer. Houston police officers administer first aid to Officer Tommy A. Britt, injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington and Fulton during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. Killings, planted evidence and a federal discrimination lawsuit all provided the fuel that Torres' death set ablaze at an event known as the Moody Park Riot. Chief Bond comments on the function of the Civilian Review Board. Poe served as a chief felony prosecutor for eight years before being appointed a state district judge in 1981. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The Houston Police Department first arrested Phillips's replacement, a Security Guard Services, Inc. employee named Robert Taylor. The Killing of Jos Campos Torres. Attorneys for the three defendants said they would probably appeal the verdict. Officers Terry Denson (left) and Stephen Orlando (right) were the only two officers convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, in the death of Torres, and each was fined $1 and given probation. However, Houston's police chief issued a statement saying that "the processes of justice have prevailed over demagoguery.". They were able to gain the trust of victims and witnesses because they knew how Hispanic Houstonians really lived.. Holland, 80, previously was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. The appeals court did not specify the severity of the sentences to be imposed, however, and John Wilson, a Justice Department spokesman in Washington, said that no further appeals would be forthcoming because the judge had acted within the limits of the order.. Join Facebook to connect with Terry Denson and others you may know. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. View the profiles of people named Terry Denson. Attorneys for the three defendants pointed out that the new sentences, because they exceed one year, would render the former officers eligible for parole, which would not be the case had their sentences remained at precisely one year. REPORTER: Walter Cronkite, (Houston, Texas) Background of case involving alleged beating of Joe Campos Torres, which resulted in his drowning, by officers Terry Wayne Denson, Stephen Orlando and Joseph Janish given. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The sergeant said he told the officers to take the prisoner to a nearby hospital; instead, they took Mr. Torres back to the 16foot embankment overlooking Buffalo Bayou near downtown Housotn, where they had beaten him. The summer of 1979, detective sergeant Jim Montero floated an idea past HPD chief Harry Caldwell: if he got permission to recruit a small group of Spanish-speaking patrol officers, he could train them to serve as translators in the field, helping the department to close the growing number of unsolved crimes in Houstons barrios. Instead of being transferred to Ben Taub Hospital for treatment, Torres was taken to a site along Buffalo Bayou near Commerce, where he either jumped or was pushed into the bayou. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. By John M. Crewdson; Special to The New York Times. Instead, they brought him back to the Hole. Although members of the Houston police force have previously been accused of brutality against prisoners, the Torres case is the first such incident to be brought to trial. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 'I will never be the same, my family will never be the same. The jury heard four weeks of testimony alleging that six police officers had taken Joe Campos Torres, 23, a laborer, from a cheap cantina, where he was arrested for public drunkeness, to a secluded spot near a bayou, where five of them beat him severely while his arms were handcuffed behind his back. By 1977, the year Torres was killed, HPD had hired just 161 Hispanic officers to serve a community with more than 200,000 Latino residents. Host Alonzo, a self-proclaimed history nerd, often spent time in history classes in the Rio Grande Valley thumbing through her books trying to find important figures that looked like her. On the one-year anniversary of Torres' death, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots. On April 3, a plaza, a monument, a huge portrait, and a walking trail were all unveiled and dedicated to remembering a man brutally murdered by Houston police almost 45 years ago. In 2004, Poe was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving for 14 years. For years, [HPD] operated with impunity, he says. And those who chronicled the attack said the executioner was. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner apologized to the family of Joe Campos Torres for his death in 1977 in Houston police custody, calling it 'straight-up murder', Torres, a US Army Vietnam veteran, was 23 when he was arrested on May 5, 1977 for disorderly conduct at a bar, and beaten. The victim, Joe Campos Torres, 23, allegedly was dumped off the 25-foot retaining wall into the bayou last Friday. Two additional officers at the scene, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, were suspended from duty but granted immunity by the state in exchange for their testimony. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. [Victim's mother Margaret TORRES - feels happy because she wanted justice and doesn't want this to happen again.] Joining HPD was regarded almost as a betrayal. Here are four Houston murders that made news and, in three cases, changed the justice system. All the while, she draws parallels to present-day discrimination against Latinos and the ongoing demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice. Denson testified that Torres had said he could swim and had jumped into the water. The three foriner officers, Terry W. Denson, 27 years old, Stephen Orlando, 22, and Joseph J. Janish, 24, were convicted after a twoweek trial on two counts of violating the civil rights of. We want to let the people know what kind of person he was and what he meant to my family,' Molina said. Welcome! All six officers were found guilty of violating Torres' civil rights, and given a ten-year suspended sentence. You were a victim [of a crime], so Im going to treat you as a victim. An all-white jury found them guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanorand sentenced the officers to a year's probation and a $1 fine. "There has never been anything to mark (Torres' death) in a positive way," Torres' nephew Richard Molina, told the Houston Chronicle in 2014. The killing of Torres - a Hispanic veteran arrested at an East End bar - was the spark that set off a series of protests, firings and reforms that eventually transformed the Houston Police Department into the modern crime-fighting institution that we know today. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, who refused to process him due to his injuries. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. When police attempted to make an arrest at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Moody Park, attendees began throwing rocks and overturning police cars. Truth about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when. The Government appealed, arguing that probation was not permissible in cases where the possible penalty was life in prison, as it is in Federal civil rights cases in which the victim has died. In the case of [Torres], theres racism, theres extreme brutality.. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanor . If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Once there, officials refused to book him because of the extent of his injuries, and ordered that he be admitted to a hospital. 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Attention, and HPDs newly minted Internal Affairs unit was overwhelmed with complaints the Hole shopping center and! Mex.-Americans for Justice Department brought civil rights violations and served nine months in...., USA about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who when! Bond comments on the first anniversary of Torres ' death, frustrated residents of Houstons staged... Department brought civil rights violations and served nine months in prison impunity, he says terry denson houston police having a work! Timesmachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers at about 11 p.m. Saturday and. Studio ) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating Torres ' death, the presence. Into riots probation and a $ 1 and sentenced to probation community policing is really important, says... Misdemeanorand sentenced the officers involved received would spark the infamous Moody Park riot began... Of civil rights charges against the three former officers are Terry W. Denson, 27, and fifteen were!

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