A former Houston police officer, Gerald Goines, who led a deadly drug raid in 2019 that unveiled systemic corruption within the department’s narcotics unit, has won a legal victory as a judge dismissed two murder charges he was facing in the case. The raid resulted in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, who were mistakenly portrayed as dangerous heroin dealers by Goines, who allegedly lied to obtain a search warrant. The couple was fatally shot during the raid, with police finding only small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in the house.
During a court hearing, state District Judge Veronica Nelson dismissed the murder indictments against Goines, who has maintained his innocence in the case. His lawyers argued that prosecutors had improperly used a charge of tampering with a government record to indict him for murder. The Harris County Attorney’s Office expressed shock and disappointment at the ruling, stating they are considering their options, including amending the indictment to ensure justice for the victims. The families of Tuttle and Nicholas expressed disappointment, saying justice still seems far off, despite the ongoing fight to reveal the truth.
Federal civil rights lawsuits filed by the families of Tuttle and Nicholas against Goines and other officers involved in the raid are set to be tried in September. A dozen officers tied to the narcotics squad that carried out the raid were later indicted following a corruption probe, with charges related to an alleged overtime scheme and falsifying documentation. Nine of the officers are set for trial in September. The deadly drug raid led to Houston police discontinuing the use of “no-knock” warrants, which allow officers to enter a home without announcing themselves.
Following the raid, prosecutors have been reviewing thousands of cases handled by the narcotics unit, leading to 22 convictions linked to Goines being overturned. One recent dismissal involved a man who said he was innocent of drug charges fabricated by Goines. Another case tied to Goines under scrutiny is his 2004 drug arrest of George Floyd, whose 2020 death sparked a national reckoning on racism in policing. A Texas board in 2022 declined a request for a posthumous pardon for Floyd’s conviction. The impact of Goines’ actions continues to affect individuals who have been wrongfully convicted as a result of his misconduct.
The families of Tuttle and Nicholas, as well as other victims of Goines’ corruption, continue to seek justice and accountability for the harm caused by the former officer’s actions. Despite the legal victories in the dismissal of murder charges, the families and the community at large are still working towards shedding light on the truth of what happened during the deadly drug raid. The upcoming trials of the officers involved in the corruption probe will be a crucial moment in holding those responsible for misconduct accountable and ensuring that justice is served for the victims. The implications of Goines’ actions have had far-reaching consequences, impacting the lives of individuals who were wrongfully targeted and convicted as a result of the corruption within the Houston Police Department’s narcotics unit.
