Charges Filed In Officer's Killing

Suspect Sergio Robles Remains Hospitalized

POSTED: Saturday, August 22, 2009

UPDATED: 11:23 am CDT August 22, 2009

PASADENA, Texas -- Capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges have been filed against a man accused of killing a Pasadena police officer, KPRC Local 2 reported Saturday.

Sergio Robles, 24, is accused of killing Officer Jesse Hamilton, 29, Friday at 6 a.m. at a mobile home park on Joe Street near Bob Street.

Pasadena police said Hamilton's first call of the day was a family disturbance call at the mobile home park.

Detectives said that Hamilton arrived at the scene and began talking to Olga Garcia, Robles' mother, who was standing on the front porch of her trailer.

Robles' mother told Hamilton that her son was inside the trailer and was armed. Investigators said the mother had originally told the dispatcher that no one was armed.

Hamilton went back to his car to call for help, officials said.

Robles then fired at Hamilton, who was shot in the head, police said. He was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died.

Police said other officers arrived at the scene three minutes after Hamilton called for backup. The officers found Robles with a gun and standing over Hamilton, detectives said.

Robles pointed his gun at the backup officers and one of them shot Robles in the head, investigators said.

Robles was also taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He was in serious condition and expected to survive.

Detectives said Robles was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing his weapon at the officer who shot him.

Investigators said Hamilton had been with the department since 2005. He received four letters of commendation and was named the officer of the month in December 2005.

Hamilton leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

Ginny Ginn Wagner knows exactly what they are going through. Her husband, Jeff Ginn, was killed in the line of duty in July 1991 in a similar incident.

"I'm sure they are in disbelief, probably a part of them don't realized it's real yet," said Wagner. "It brings it all back to that night when my girls were 2 and 5. They are still feeling the loss of their father."

"I think that has some level of emotion on everybody, whether people knew the officer or not," Capt. Bud Corbett said. "I saw the impact it had on some of the reporters when I told them. I think it has some level of impact along that line for anybody who hears it."

Hamilton was a 1999 graduate of Deer Park High School and majored in graphic arts at San Jacinto College.

The shooting shocked area residents.

"I go to my neighbor and she said she heard one gunshot and a freaking scream," said a woman who only identified herself as Jacqueline. "I just comforted her for a while because she was in sick shock. This has never happened in our neighborhood, or here in our neighborhood, so it’s a shock for us."

The 100 Club will give Hamilton's family a $10,000 check to assist with their immediate needs. The club will review the family's situation and give them additional support for current financial and the children's education needs.

Hamilton is the fourth Pasadena police officer to be killed in the line of duty.

Robles Has Criminal Past; Won Judgment Against Police

The man accused of killing Hamilton has been in trouble before.

Robles was released from the Harris County Jail on Thursday after serving time on a drunken driving charge.

Robles has also been arrested on another drunken driving charge and on charges of discharging a firearm in a neighborhood.

Earlier this year, Robles won a civil rights lawsuit he filed against the Santa Fe Police Department, whose officers were found to have used excessive force when they arrested him on Aug. 21, 2006.

The beating was captured on dashcam video. Robles was cleared on charges of assault and resisting arrest.

Robles was awarded a $125,000 settlement. Neither side admitted fault in the incident.

Attorney Brian Wice said Robles' history can be used against him.

"The big picture is the one that the jury is ultimately going to see," Wice said. "If not during the guilt/innocence stage, certainly during the punishment phase."

Robles had a history of mental problems, police said.