Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Fri 04/27/2007

Police officer is no-billed in fatal shooting

By DALE LEZON Staff

A Harris County grand jury chose Thursday not to indict a Houston police officer in the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man whose family had called for help during an incident at their home, the District Attorney's Office reported.

Rodney D. Chaison Jr., a five-year Houston Police Department veteran, fired at Omar Esparza, 21, as a last resort during a confrontation Jan. 7 at the family home in the 5000 block of Curtin, police said.

The shots were fired only after Esparza charged at the officers with a hammer, police said.

The grand jury's decision saddened Esparza's relatives, their attorney, Carlos Leon, said. He added that the family plans to file a lawsuit soon. "It's devastating," Leon said. "It's an injustice."

Chaison, though glad the grand jury decided that he was justified in using deadly force, is still upset about the shooting, said Chad Hoffman, a lawyer with the Houston Police Officers' Union.

"The last thing he wanted to do was use deadly force in that situation," he said.

Hoffman said Chaison was placed on desk duty for three days after the shooting but has returned to his patrol duties.

Police said Esparza's mother, Asuncion Valle, called 911 because he had locked his relatives out of the house after they proposed taking him to the NeuroPsychiatric Center at Ben Taub General Hospital.

The family said Esparza was mentally challenged and mentally ill, although his exact condition had not been diagnosed.

 

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