Chase Suspect's Family Hires Attorney

POSTED: 5:52 pm CDT May 1, 2008

UPDATED: 7:19 am CDT May 2, 2008

HOUSTON -- The family of a man killed by police officers following a chase took action on Thursday by hiring an attorney, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Conflicting information still surrounds the suspect, Roland Carnaby, 52. Family and friends claimed he worked as a Central Intelligence Agency contractor.

The CIA said it never employed him. Carnaby's family said he has numerous intelligence awards and credentials, but investigators have not confirmed that the credentials are real. But despite all the mystery, loved ones said Carnaby's past is not important.

Roland Carnaby, 52, died Tuesday morning on Woodway at the West Loop. Two officers said they shot him when they thought he was reaching for a weapon.

As Carnaby’s parents arrived from Lebanon on Thursday, the family left all the talking to its attorney.

"Mr. Roland Carnaby is an individual who has never been convicted of a crime in his life and who was shot and killed by the Houston Police Department using improper procedures," attorney Randall Kallinen said. "There needs to be a thorough investigation for the citizens of Houston to see whether their police officers are using deadly force only when it is necessary."

Police officials later said Carnaby was probably reach for a cell phone when he was shot, but three guns were found in his vehicle. They also found two sets of CIA identification papers in the SUV -- both with different names.

Police are still trying to verify if they are real.

If he were a CIA operative, he did not keep it a secret, the station reported.

He told friends, family and his Pearland neighbors, convincing one that he had tracked down Osama Bin Laden.

"He talked about some of the things he did and in fact talked about being in Afghanistan one time and in pursuit of Osama Bin Laden and came very, very close at one point only to be shot down by the Clinton administration to not do it," said a neighbor who did not want to be identified.

Earlier, Carnaby's family insisted that he was not an imposter and that the dozen or so commendation plaques that hung on his wall were proof.

"He risked his life every day, very often and he deserves better. And that's the main thing. He was patriotic," said Robert Kouts, Carnaby's brother-in-law.

Carnaby's father owns a shipping company, but the family said Carnaby earned his income from his work for the government.