Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Fri 06/06/2008

Section: B Page: 2 Edition: 3 STAR R.O.

Man police killed had a record of drug crimes / Officers say they thought he had a gun; none found

By KEVIN MORAN, MIKE GLENN

Staff

The man fatally shot by police Wednesday after a struggle in southeast Houston had a criminal background dating back to 1997, according to Harris County court records.

Houston police on Thursday identified the man as Tarrance Alvin Brown, 30. Brown died outside the Crescent City Apartments after officers who pursued and struggled with him said they thought he was pulling a pistol from his pants, police said.

Medical examiner's investigators at the scene found plastic bags containing what they believe to be drugs but no weapon, HPD homicide investigators said in a statement Thursday.

A resident of the apartment complex told investigators two men went through Brown's pockets and fled before pursuing officers arrived, police said. Police searched the area for a gun but did not find one, they said.

Brown had a string of drug and other misdemeanor arrests dating back to 1997, according to records. In his last disposition, he was sentenced in March 2006 to seven months in a state jail for felony drug trafficking, according to records.

Members of an HPD drug enforcement team intervened in a suspected drug deal involving Brown about 6 a.m. in the 8500 block of Broadway. Brown fled on a bicycle, police said. Officers found him again in a parking area of the Pebblewalk Apartments, police said.

Brown abandoned his bike and ran farther into the complex before the officers caught up and struggled with him, police said.

The officers could not control Brown, who Capt. Bruce Williams said "overpowered them." Officer Hans Wagner Jr. fired his Taser at the man, Williams said. Wagner and two other officers reportedly struggled with him as he pulled the Taser darts out.

Police said Thursday that after the Taser shocked Brown, he began to walk away and said, "You're going to have to kill me."

Brown refused commands to surrender and reached into his pants, police said. As he began to pull his hand out, officer Shane Nash fired two shots, investigators said Thursday.

Williams said Wednesday that Wagner saw what he thought was a pistol and yelled, "Gun!" before Nash fired.

After being wounded, Brown crossed Broadway before he collapsed and died on an interior walkway of the Crescent City Apartments.

 

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