Pubdate: Tue, 24 Aug 1999
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html
Page: 11A
Author: Ed Asher

4 IN CONGRESS URGE RENO TO STAY ON OREGON CASE

Testimony Before Federal Panel Continues

Four members of Congress are urging U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to
bring charges, "if warranted," against former Houston police officers
involved in the 1998 shooting death of Pedro Oregon Navarro.

U.S. Reps. Ken Bentsen, Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee and Ruben Hinojosa
wrote Reno on Aug. 13 asking for an update on what the U.S. Department of
Justice is doing in the case.

Oregon was killed July 12, 1998, by Houston police who entered his
brother's apartment without a warrant on a drug raid. Oregon had a gun and
police said he pointed it at them. No drugs were found in the apartment or
in Oregon's system.

"We understand that DOJ may be reluctant to bring federal charges against
these individuals because an earlier attempt to prosecute one of the
officers on state trespassing charges ended in an acquittal," the four said
in the letter. "We would urge you, however, to carefully examine the
circumstances surrounding this tragedy and bring charges, if warranted. We
would appreciate an updated on DOJ actions concerning this matter."

None of the four could be reached for comment on Monday.

The Justice Department began a federal civil rights investigation after a
state grand jury cleared five of the six former Houston Police Department
officers of wrongdoing. The sixth, James Willis, was acquitted of a
misdemeanor criminal trespass charge in March.

The case is now before a federal grand jury, which has been hearing
evidence for six months.

"The Department of Justice has almost unlimited authority to investigate
and prosecute possible civil rights violations," said Bentsen's press
secretary, Audrey Duff.

"After a recent acquittal on state trespassing charges of one of the
individuals, Congressman Bentsen and other members of the Texas delegation
wanted to urge the DOJ to remain vigilant in pursuing its investigation."

Jackson Lee's chief of staff, James Gaston, said the same. "She signed this
letter urging the Department of Justice to remain vigilant in pursuing a
civil rights violation investigation," he said.

Gaston said he did not know whether Jackson Lee has information to believe
that it is not being pursued aggressively.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said Monday the investigation is ongoing
and the department could not comment.

The letter also accuses the former officers of attempting to impede the
initial police investigation of the shooting.

"When police investigators started to examine the sequence of events
leading up to the shooting, the officers involved attempted to obstruct the
official inquiry."

The letter does not provide any details to support the allegation.

But the statement drew sharp criticism from the attorney who represents
four of the six.

"The letter is not alarming to us, other than the allegation which
incorrectly and prejudicially claims the officers did not fully cooperate,"
attorney Robert Thomas said.

"The officers gave affidavits on the night of the shooting. They cooperated
with HPD internal affairs division and testified for many hours in front of
the state grand jury.

"We hope that the justice system will remain independent and blind to the
political influence of career politicians."

Oregon's family is suing the city of Houston and all the former officers in
federal court. The suit is pending and is set to go to trial next summer.

Richard Mithoff, one of the family's attorneys, said of the letter: "This
is an important civil rights case and one that has clearly caught the
attention of Congress.

"We would join in a request that the Justice Department go forward with
this investigation into the conduct of these officers for the sake of the
Oregon family and our community."

The suit blames Oregon's death on an alleged systemwide failure of HPD's
policies in recruiting, hiring and training officers. It alleges officers
acted as "judge, jury and executioner" when they fired about 33 rounds into
Oregon's bedroom, striking him 12 times.

Some of the officers who went to Oregon's apartment to look for drugs did
not fire their weapons.

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