POLICE Department

Investigation into Male's Death at 4451 West Fuqua

April 20, 2017 - Houston police are investigating the death of a male that occured in police custody following an incident at 4451 West Fuqua about 6:40 p.m. on Saturday (April 15).

Roderick Ronall Taylor (b/m, 42) was transported to Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer L. Bailey reported:

HPD patrol officers were dispatched to a CVS pharmacy at the above address for a welfare check.  Upon arrival, Taylor was being treated by Houston Fire Department paramedics who then released him.  Taylor then became incoherent, uncooperative and walked into the drugstore and stated he needed to call police.  An officer followed the suspect into the store, at which point Taylor jumped across the counter of the pharmacy department.  As the officer approached, Taylor jumped back across the counter and attempted to flee past the officer.  When the officer attempted to stop him, the suspect began to fight with the officer and at some point attempted to grab the officer's duty belt.  A second officer arrived and the suspect continued to fight with both of the officers until the first officer deployed his Conducted Energy Device (CED).  The suspect continued to fight with the officers but was handcuffed.  HFD was called back to the scene to treat the suspect at which time he became unresponsive and was transported to the hospital. One of the HPD officers suffered a laceration to his eye and abrasions on his arm.  He was treated at the scene. 

A follow-up investigation revealed Taylor was on life support and in critical condition.  He was pronounced dead on Tuesday (April 18). 

As is customary when an individual dies in the presence of an HPD officer, the incident is considered an in-custody death and is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions.