Charges dropped against Houston police officers involved in botched Harding Street raid that left 2 dead

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As the murder case against disgraced Houston Police Department officer Gerald Goines moves closer to trial, prosecutors suffered a setback Monday on charges against several other officers.

More than five years ago, a botched raid on Harding Street in southeast Houston killed Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, who were not drug dealers.

In the months that followed, several police officers were indicted, including lead officer Gerald Goines, who faces murder charges. But the path to justice for the Tuttle and Nicholas families has not been easy.

RELATED: Murder charges dropped against disgraced HPD officer Gerald Goines at center of Harding Street raid

Today, the judge overseeing numerous charges against several other police officers overturned several charges. Specifically, officers who were accused of an alleged overtime scheme related to the raid had their charges dismissed.

The judge ruled that the indictments were too broad. She made a similar ruling on Goines’ murder charge a few months ago, but the Harris County District Attorney’s Office presented the case again to a grand jury and Goines was again charged with murder.

RELATED: Murder charges against couple killed in botched 2019 raid reinstated against HPD officer

The prosecutor’s office told ABC13 it will also refile the charges under the alleged overtime scheme.

The president of the Police Officers’ Union says he doesn’t think these police officers will be re-indicted like Goines. In fact, Doug Griffith says he plans to testify before the Grand Jury if these charges are brought forward again.

In the meantime, it is important to note that the murder charges against Goines remain on schedule for trial. Jury selection in Goines’ case begins Friday and the trial is expected to begin in September.

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