Houston Police Department

April 22, 2005 -- Charges of attempted capital murder of a police officer are pending against a suspect arrested in the shooting of a Houston police officer at 8400 Eastex
Freeway about 3:30 a.m. today (Apr. 22).

Wendell Roy Mitchell (b/m, DOB 9-3-71) was taken into custody about 11:45 a.m. today while hiding in an abandoned house in the 4600 block of Settegast.

The wounded officer, Raul Montelongo Jr. of the Northeast Patrol Division, was shot in the left cheekbone and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he is listed in stable condition. Officer Montelongo, 35, was sworn in as an HPD officer in June 1998.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant D.A. Ferguson and Officer B.C. McDaniel reported:

Officer Montelongo was running radar in the 8000 block of the Eastex Freeway when he clocked the suspect driving above the listed speed limit. Officer Montelongo initiated a traffic stop in the northbound lanes of the 8400 block of the Eastex Freeway service road. The officer walked up to the suspect's vehicle and requested the suspect's driver's license, which he provided. The suspect then pointed and fired a semiautomatic weapon at Officer Montelongo. The suspect then fled and wrecked his vehicle at the 610 North Loop and Liberty, where he then fled on foot.

The suspect, who has confessed to his role in the shooting, will be charged later this date with attempted capital murder of a police officer.

Investigators are urging the two other individuals inside the suspect's vehicle at the time of the shooting to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide witness statements only. The two individuals do not face any charges.

JFC/RMM 4-22-05
Inc #061381105

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.