Houston Police Department

August 5, 2006 -- Charges have been filed against two suspects, one who was wounded by a Houston police officer, following the aggravated robbery of a man at 7100 Lawndale about 12:05 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 4).

Suspect #1, Allan Fernando Alvarez (H/m, DOB: 4/22/82), has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in the 208th State District Court. He sustained a gunshot wound to the face and was transported to Ben Taub General
Hospital. Suspect #2, a Hispanic male juvenile, 16, was charged with robbery and was turned over to Harris County Juvenile authorities. The victim, Juan Padraza, 53, was not injured.

HPD Sergeant R. Garza, sworn in as an officer in September of 1984 and assigned to the Eastside Patrol Division, discharged his weapon once, striking Alvarez.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant B. Harris and Officer E.M. Follis reported:

The victim was in the business parking lot in the 7100 block of Lawndale when the suspects robbed him at gunpoint. He flagged down on-duty HPD patrol officers and provided descriptions of the two armed suspects. Officers located both suspects in the immediate area and began a foot pursuit. Alvarez was chased to the 2000 block of Santa Rosa where he hid in a garbage container. As Sergeant Garza approached the trash can and raised the lid; Alvarez popped out of the can in a threatening manner and Sergeant Garza, believing the suspect was armed, discharged his weapon once striking Alvarez in the face. Alvarez once again fled on foot and was located a short time later hiding in a storage unit at 2000 Pasadena where he was taken into custody. The juvenile suspect was apprehended inside a supermarket on Lawndale.

As is customary in officer-involved shootings in the city limits, the case is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney's office.

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