Houston hit again after Beryl case, this time with crime spike

Following the impact of Hurricane Beryl in Houston, the region is facing not only extensive damage and extended power outages, but also an increase in crime, including burglaries, violent threats against utility workers and murders.

Since Beryl made landfall on July 8, the Harris County District Clerk’s Office has recorded nearly 50 burglary charges, according to a report from The Texan.

Under Texas law, burglary during a disaster carries stiffer penalties, escalating the charge to a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

“Anyone who commits these types of crimes during a declared disaster and tries to take advantage of businesses that are closed without power is about as low as it gets,” Andy Kahan of Crime Stoppers of Houston told The Texan.

“I sincerely hope that they throw the book in their faces, that they are sent to prison and that they will not breathe fresh air for a while,” he added.

Meanwhile, the community is mourning the loss of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda, who was tragically killed in an ambush last week. The incident occurred as Esqueda and his colleagues were responding to a disturbance at an east Houston pizza restaurant.

Suspect Ronnie Palmer, 44, allegedly became enraged over a food dispute and attacked an employee before fatally shooting Deputy Esqueda in what investigators described as a targeted attack.

Palmer is charged with capital murder, with a second suspect, Dremone Francis, also charged in connection with the crime, according to court documents.

In response to escalating crime and ongoing power issues, Houston authorities have deployed additional law enforcement resources.

Interim Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite and Texas Department of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd announced the deployment of 100 officers from various agencies across the state to help with patrols and maintain security, according to The Texan.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Governor Greg Abbott condemned the attacks on power line workers, stressing the critical role these workers play in the city’s recovery efforts.

Over the weekend, law enforcement arrested a man for pointing a gun at a CenterPoint Energy crew. The crew represents a growing portion of the more than 10,000 contractors hired to restore power who are vulnerable to threats and physical assaults from residents, according to Fox 26 News.

On July 16, CenterPoint Energy restored power to more than 2 million customers. Cooling centers and community support initiatives, including those led by local philanthropist Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, provided relief and shelter to thousands of people affected by the storm’s aftermath.

As previously stated by The Dallas ExpressAt a news conference at NRG Arena in Houston on July 15, Abbott criticized CenterPoint for failing to restore power quickly, saying that nearly 200,000 Houston residents remained without power more than a week after Beryl struck Texas.

“CenterPoint completely dropped the ball when it came to restoring power,” Abbott said during the briefing.

“One of the problems we are seeing in the current response to Hurricane Beryl is the disruption of life, not because of the hurricane itself, but because of the lack of electricity supply. The inability of electric companies to provide electricity to their customers is unacceptable,” the governor added.