February 27, 2012 - Houston police are investigating an incident in which an HPD officer discharged his weapon at burglary suspects at 5000 Ridgecreek Drive about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday (Feb. 26).

None of the three unknown suspects was believed to be struck.  They fled the scene in a four-door SUV and are wanted at this time.

The officer who discharged his weapon, M. Rivera, was not injured.  Officer Rivera, assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division, was sworn in as an officer in March 2009.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant K. Tolls and Senior Police Officer T. Tyler reported:

Officer M.Rivera was dispatched to a robbery call at the above location and arrived to discover three suspects burglarizing a residence.  The officer was forced to confront the suspects as they walked across the front yard of the residence.  One suspect walked away toward a large sport utility vehicle (SUV) parked on the road beside the corner lot residence.  Another suspect confronted the officer with a beligerent tone.  The beligerant suspect refused to comply with the officer's commands to get on the ground.  That suspect then joined the other by the SUV.  The beligerant suspect walked around the front of the SUV to the other side, stopping at the back passenger side door, opening and closing it.  This suspect walked to the back of the SUV and closed the open back door.  The suspect then made a fast movement and startled the officer, who fearing this suspect may have removed a weapon from the SUV, and fearing for his safety, fired his weapon at the suspect.  The officer took cover behind a tree and opened fire again on the suspect.  The suspects did not fire shots at the officer. 

At this time, it is believed none of the suspects was injured.  The suspects fled in the SUV with the officer in pursuit.  The SUV left the roadway and drove onto a greenbelt where the officer lost sight of the vehicle. 

The three suspects in the vehicle are only described as young Hispanic males, one of whom was skinny and another was heavy.  There was no further description on the third male.

Anyone with information on the suspects identities is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.



JFC/VHS   2-27-12

Inc #024405412