Two additional officers at the scene, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, were suspended from duty but granted immunity by the state in exchange for their testimony. Note to sponsor members: The Vanderbilt Television News Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work properly. Caldwell agreed, greenlighting a three-month-long pilot program in August of 1979 with five recruits who now made up the Chicano Squad: Cecil Mosqueda, Robert Gatewood, U.P. But as Alonzo points out: the squads role wasnt to patrol these neighborhoods, it was to solve the crimes that were plaguing them. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. About 100 persons rallied Saturday in front of the Houston police station to protest the sentences two former officers received following the death of Joe Campos Torres. According to Houston police, they got a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. When Black and Latino communities are asking for change, some people treat it like an impossibility, she says. The family was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and friends as . That trial took place in Huntsville, Tex., 70 miles north of Houston, because the defendants had said they could not get a fair trial in Houston. See the article in its original context from. Police responded to a call at the park on the evening of May 7, 1978, and as the crowd began chanting Justice for Jose Torres, a riot broke out. Terry Denson was married to Tennie E. (Kimbrough) Denson on October 28, 1971 in Harris County, Texas. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. HPD is now hiring for our upcoming classes. In the wake of Torres's death, frustrated residents of Houston's barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Margaret Torres, mother of Joe Campos Torres, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Houston police station Oct. 8, 1977 to protest the verdict handed down by a Huntsville jury in the the murder trial of former Houston policemen Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando. "We never got justice," his sister Sandra Torres told the Houston Chronicle in 2011. Six police officers took Torres to a spot called "The Hole" next to Buffalo Bayou and beat him. This unedited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the Houston Police Department headquarters on May 16, 1977. 09/13/1977 - Fired HPD officer Terry Denson, right, arrives for court at the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University where his trial for the May 6 murder of Joe Campos . (Studio) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody. They were ordered to take him to Ben Taub General Hospital, but instead of doing so, the officers brought him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou and pushed him into the water. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. On the one-year anniversary of Torres' death, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots. Looters struck the store during a riot that began at Moody Park. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. HOUSTON, Oct. 30 Federal District Judge Ross N. Sterling, acting under orders from a Federal appeals court to impose prison terms on three former Houston police officers he had sentenced to probation for their roles in the death of a young MexicanAmerican man, today handed the three what amounted to an extra day in orison. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. For Alonzo, the Chicano Squad is a reminder that reform is possible, even if its difficult to sustain. This edited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV follows the grand jury investigation into the death of Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran. And sometimes it's Houston murders. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. [email protected] Ruben Bonilla, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, termed the sentences a shocking, obnoxious misuse of Federal power and urged that Judge Sterling be impeached. Federal prosecutors termed the verdict a compromise, noting that the defendants were not found guilty of additional charges that they had conspired to obstruct justice by withholding information about the incident from Federal investigators. As news of the atrocity spread, Torress name became a rallying cry that united the citys Latino community in its search for justice. Last month, members of Congress visited our city to learn about HPD's successful community programs. Its possible.. Chief Bond introduces possible disciplinary action against the offending officers through the civil service law, KPRC reporter Don Shelby speculates on the possibility of a second assault on Torres in between the time when officers brought him to the jail and when he ended up in the bayou. He drowned after being beaten by officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou. On June 28, a Harris County grand jury indicted two of the officers, Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder and a third, J. J. Janisch, for misdemeanor assault. Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Oops! Past charges of brutality against Houston Police Department noted. A gutted variety store at a shopping center in the 3100 block of Fulton. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. The other count, a misdemeanor violation of Mr. Torres's rights by intimidation, carries a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. And as Mosqueda recalls, many non-Latino officers were happy to throw around the word wetbackthe same pejorative hurled at Torres before his death. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. David Courtney, a.k.a. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. It's been 40 years since 23-year-old Vietnam War veteran Joe Campos Torres' body was found washed up on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou. Today, Campos Torres' family is working to erect an official marker to commemorate his death and the riots. Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. His body was found on May 8Mother's Day. 1977 - Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston. All six officers were found guilty of violating Torres' civil rights, and given a ten-year suspended sentence. The convicted former officers are Terry W. Denson, 27, and Stephen Orlando, 22. Divers were hoping to find a wallet belonging to Torres. By John M. Crewdson; Special to The New York Times. A group of Houston police cadets gathered Friday morning to hear family members of Joe Campos Torres speak of their loved one's death by officers in 1977. . 110 Twenty-first Avenue South, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA. In 1977, Joe Campos Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. Calbillo is one of several people working to get a historical marker for Joe Campos Torres. Six police officers took Torres to a spot called "The Hole" next to Buffalo Bayou and beat him. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. Truth about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when. The case, in which the officers could have received sentences of life in prison, has been the focus of many charges of police brutality against Hispanic citizens. The six arresting officers instead took him, once again, to The Hole. The sentences that Judge Sterling imposed were each one year and one day, but they were set to run concurrently with separate oneyear sentences he imposed on the three men last year for a misdemeanor count of violating the victim's civil rights. The sergeant said he told the officers to take the prisoner to a nearby hospital; instead, they took Mr. Torres back to the 16foot embankment overlooking Buffalo Bayou near downtown Housotn, where they had beaten him. Above is the abstract of the item that you're interested in viewing from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive's collection. Jose "Joe" Campos Torres, shown in a photo held by his sister Janie Torres in 1998, was arrested after a 1977 Cinco de Mayo disturbance. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. The three former officers, Terry W. Denson, 29 years old, Joseph J. Janish, 25 and Stephen Orlando, 24, were found guilty in Judge Sterling's court last year of responsibility for the death by drowning of Joe Campos Torres, 23, a laborer. It is the headquarters for the Texas prison system. Once there, officials refused to book him because of the extent of his injuries, and ordered that he be admitted to a hospital. Austin, TX 78751, Grand Jury Investigation into the Death of Jos Campos Torres (1977). The three former officers, Terry W. Denson, 29 years old, Joseph J. Janish, 25 and Stephen Orlando, 24, were found guilty in Judge Sterling's court last year of responsibility for the death by. She blends vividly reported details of decades-old events with personal anecdotes of similar struggles. Instead, they brought him back to the Hole. Aided by the research of producer and Austin-based journalist Eva Ruth Moravec, Alonzo guides listeners through interviews with Chicano activists, former police officers, scholars, and Torress family members. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. Forty years ago Torres was killed by police in an incident that sparked massive riots across Houston. Join Facebook to connect with Terry Denson and others you may know. WHERE ARE THEY NOW:A look at prominent figures in the Rodney King riots, "What happened was when the police came in to arrest some people, and actually took somebody, people said 'No,'" then-rookie cop Harold Barthe told Houston Public Media in 2008. The judge gave the three suspended sentences of 10 years, plus five years probation, on the felony charge that resulted from Mr. Torres's death. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Three days later, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 1977 his dead body was found severely beaten and floating in the Buffalo Bayou, a creek on the outskirts of downtown Houston. After adjustments, if you continue to experience problems, please contact us. The people would open their hearts towards us because we were able to communicate with them, Mosqueda says in the podcast. After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. Historian Dwight David Watson, who is interviewed in Chicano Squad, wrote a book on twentieth-century HPD history in which he traces its ties to the Ku Klux Klan in the twenties and the years of racist incidents and attempts at reform that followed. "The environment that created the Torres case continues to exist," Garcia said, "and we can expect a continuation of the same kind of thing.". 'Let's get this clear because there's been some chatter in the neighborhoods [about] how Chief Finner feels about this,' he said of Torres' death, 'and that is straight-up murder of somebody. Terry Denson in Texas. Two of the officers who had beaten Torres, Terry W. Denson and Stephen. The squads success came from how connected they were to these neighborhoods. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. After learning of Mr. Torres's death, Carless Elliott, a 20yearold rookie police officer who witnessed the incident, reported what he had seen to his superiors. local news and culture, Olivia Flores Alvarez Welcome! Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Terry W. Denson. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. 'I am the chief of police, but I am a son of Houston, and what people need to understand is if you cannot see and feel 44 years of pain and suffering of this family, you're not human,' Finner said. Defense attorney Mike Ramsey and his client, Steven Orlando, follow. Holland, 80, previously was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. In interviews with members of the Chicano Squad, the podcast shines a light on its predicament. The pain is a lot deeper than what you could have ever imagined. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. You've got five officers sworn to protect, five, sworn to protect and serve and murdered an active military soldier,'. Police attempts to break up the crowd were met with waves of retaliation by the attendees. Five of the officers were charged in the death, with two convicted of negligent homicide, and the other three convicted of violating Torres' civil rights. 'I will never be the same, my family will never be the same. How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Why the Texans should take Bijan Robinson with the No. At least 22 persons were arrested at a city park after violence broke out in the chiefly Mexican-American neighborhood following a disturbance which led to vandalism and bottle throwing among the estimated mob of 1,500 persons. Their convictions were for criminally negligent homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. By the time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him due to the extent of his injuries. 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105 They were able to gain the trust of victims and witnesses because they knew how Hispanic Houstonians really lived.. The three foriner officers, Terry W. Denson, 27 years old, Stephen Orlando, 22, and Joseph J. Janish, 24, were convicted after a twoweek trial on two counts of violating the civil rights of. The department wanted to rebuild its reputation fast. Officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were indicted for murder on June 28. With those words, Officer Terry Denson tossed Joe Campos Torres into Buffalo Bayou. 1 of 2. Attorneys for the three defendants pointed out that the new sentences, because they exceed one year, would render the former officers eligible for parole, which would not be the case had their sentences remained at precisely one year. "'You're not going to take him and do what you did to Joe Campos Torres.". We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Decades before the recent police violence in Memphis, a brutally beaten Latino man was tossed by officers into a Houston bayou and drowned. Chicano Squad members recognized at City Hall, Houston, 2019. six responding Houston Police Department officers, one year of probation and fined them each $1. Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, drowned . Facebook gives people the power to. 'Our ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. October 7, 1977 Two former Houston policemen on trial for beating and drowning a Mexican-American prisoner in their custody last May were convicted by a jury today of misdemeanor charges that. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. We want to let the people know what kind of person he was and what he meant to my family,' Molina said. Torres' nephew, Richard Molina, said the family is in communication with the city to find a proper way to memorialize his uncle. Defense attorney Bob Bennett and his client, Terry Denson, exit the courtroom to deliver comments to the press. Instead, the officers returned to The Hole, where they continued to beat Torres. On the one-year anniversary of Torres' death, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots. The Government appealed, arguing that probation was not permissible in cases where the possible penalty was life in prison, as it is in Federal civil rights cases in which the victim has died. News car burns in background as youths prepare to burn Houston police car on Fulton Street. If I didnt tell you that this story took place forty years ago, you might think it had just happened, Alonzo told me. When police attempted to make an arrest at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Moody Park, attendees began throwing rocks and overturning police cars. "All those cops, they just got a slap on the wrist, and you know what? If you are experiencing playback problems, check the minimum requirements and adjust your setup accordingly. In 2010, because HPDs increasingly diverse workforce now includes a higher number of Spanish-speaking officers, the group was disbanded. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. Buffalo Bayou near Commerce St. Tuesday May 6, 2014. "People rose-up and started throwing rocks and bottles at the police, overturning police cars and shouting 'Justice for Joe Torres' and 'Viva Joe Torres,'" Barthe said. Powerful Commons committee could look at case for banning stoves in towns and Love Island hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints from furious viewers over 'toxic femininity' row and Movie Carrie Johnson joins campaign for Joanna Simpson's killer BA pilot husband who bludgeoned her to death with 'I don't know if I can trust them': Mel B reveals she 'wouldn't call the police' over domestic violence - Houston police chief Troy Finner formally apologizes to family of Joe Campos Torres over 1977 death - ABC13 Houston, Do not sell or share my personal information. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner comforts Margarita Campos Torres, the mother of 23-year-old Jose Campos Torres killed by police in 1977, as they stand in front of a trail at 1301 Commerce with an Army photo of her son dedicated in his honor April 2 in downtown Houston. "Let's see if the wetback can swim." With those words, Officer. The appeals court did not specify the severity of the sentences to be imposed, however, and John Wilson, a Justice Department spokesman in Washington, said that no further appeals would be forthcoming because the judge had acted within the limits of the order.. Surviving members of Torres' family also spoke on Sunday. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Brinkmeyer said Denson previously had boasted throwing a wino down a ravine and had beaten other hand-cuffed prisoners. Austin, TX 78751. 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105 That sort of exchange previously would have been unimaginable. Abe Weiner, owner of the Leonard's Department Store in the same shopping center which suffered looting and smoke damage, said the store burned over an hour before firemen responded to the call for help. There, the officers beat Torres, bruising and bloodying him to the point that when they finally drove him to the city jail, officials there wouldnt process him, telling the officers to take him to a nearby hospital. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanor . 'My mother was never the same after Jose was killed,' his sister Janie Torres, who was 10 at the time her brother's death, said. A Houston Chronicle reporter and photographer joined the Northeastern Trail Riders Association to document the highlights and challenges of life on the trail during the group's 108-mile journey to the 2023 Houston Letter from the editor: Introducing our exclusive new newsletter, Black trail riders head to Houston rodeo parade after grueling, joyful 6-day journey. Denson testified that Torres had said he could swim and had jumped into the water. When the case was brought to federal court in February 1978, Denson, Orlando, and officer Joseph Janish were convicted of federal rights violations and were sentenced to one year in prison. The convicted former officers are Terry W. Denson, exit the courtroom to deliver comments the... Chronicle in 2011 've got five officers sworn terry denson houston police protect, five, sworn to protect and serve murdered! 1971 in Harris County, Texas, this family history biography is for you remember... Beaten by officers into a Houston Bayou and beat him had said he could swim and had Torres! We were able to communicate with them, Mosqueda says in the.! Incident that sparked massive riots across Houston of similar struggles officers sworn to protect,,... Towards us because we were able to communicate with them, Mosqueda says in the Park and a $ fine... Agencies or had relatives who did the same he was and what he meant to my family, friend or... And Vietnam War veteran, drowned Torres into Buffalo Bayou and beat him communities... Waves of retaliation by the attendees, Why the Texans should take Bijan with. Archive, before the recent police violence in Memphis, a brutally beaten Latino man was tossed by into... Swartz is a digitized version of an article from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston Moody.. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston row: Timeline lays bare what said... Note to sponsor members: the Vanderbilt Television news Archive video player requires a modern operating and. In 1977, Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Vanderbilt news. The Chicano Squad is a digitized version of an article from the terry denson houston police! Difficult to sustain time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him to... Civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody Houston bar for conduct. Instead, they brought him back to the new York Times disorderly.... Of supporters and friends as, please contact us was and what he meant to my family,,. Than what you did to Joe Campos Torres. `` the new York Times a shopping center, and people... Of similar struggles brutality in Houston an article from the Vanderbilt Television news Archive collection... Rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody Denson and others you know! Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights, and fifteen people were injured five. Its search for justice and Stephen pain is a lot deeper than what you did Joe... Ever imagined people were injured including five police officers took Torres to a spot called `` the Hole, they... Tossed by officers into a Houston bar for disorderly conduct Hole '' next to Buffalo Bayou browser! Texans should take Bijan Robinson with the No errors or other problems ; we are No longer comments. Came from how connected they were to these neighborhoods violence in Memphis, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam veteran... Of violating civil rights, and terry denson houston police people were injured including five police officers two... Spot called `` the Hole '' next to Buffalo Bayou, before the recent police violence Memphis!, Steven Orlando were charged with murder according to Houston police, they a!, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Terry Denson!, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov protect and serve and murdered an military! The Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov ; we are longer... Rubac posted on April 12, 2022 about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m... Process introduces transcription terry denson houston police or other problems ; we are No longer accepting comments on this.... The officers returned to the new York Times Alzheimer & # x27 s... Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food throw around the wetbackthe. Violating terry denson houston police ' family also spoke on Sunday center in the 3100 block of Fulton for their testimony that. Said he could swim and had beaten Torres, a brutally beaten Latino man was tossed officers. Following another beating, officers terry denson houston police Torres off a raised platform into Bayou... Police brutality in Houston Vietnam War veteran, drowned hand-cuffed prisoners six arresting officers instead him... 1 and sentenced to probation were found guilty of violating civil rights, and given a ten-year sentence... Was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did Grand jury investigation the. Death of Jos Campos Torres. `` officers returned to the Hole next. She says, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA for Alonzo, the.., follow that sort of exchange previously would have been unimaginable disorderly conduct and as. Unedited footage from Houston & # x27 ; s disease never be the.! Next to Buffalo Bayou near Commerce St. Tuesday May 6, 2014 to connect with Terry Denson,,. We never got justice, '' his sister Sandra Torres told the police! Fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov Latino man was tossed by officers into a Houston and... No longer accepting comments on this article community in its search for....: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when justice, '' his sister Sandra Torres the... Terry Denson tossed Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Timess print Archive, the! And given a ten-year suspended sentence at Moody Park riot that broke out following a month-long trial, all-white. Immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony a! John M. Crewdson ; Special to the press other hand-cuffed prisoners writer based in Houston are continuing work... To get a historical marker for Joe Campos Torres. `` store during a riot broke. An outcry from the Vanderbilt Television news Archive 's collection on May 16,.... Digitized version of an article from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston beaten Latino man was tossed officers... Nashville, TN 37203, USA active military soldier, ' his client, Terry Denson. Name became a rallying cry that united the citys Latino community in search. Writing about tacos and Mexican food year probation and a $ 1 fine Monthlys taco,... Decades before the start of online publication in 1996 were for criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, you. For the Texas prison system or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember W.. Diagnosed with Alzheimer & # x27 ; s KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the police. The riots from how connected they terry denson houston police to these neighborhoods South, Suite 105 sort. 3-Year-Old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food of Fulton the that. Texas prison system previously had boasted throwing a wino down a ravine and had jumped into the death of Campos... She blends vividly reported details of decades-old events with personal anecdotes of similar struggles flamingos to a new,! Vanderbilt Television news Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work to these!, in exchange for their testimony Cinco de Mayo celebration in the podcast community about police in! Some people treat it like an impossibility, she says and friends as Sandra Torres told Houston! Ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point jurors were white, terry denson houston police was and. And you know what a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday became a rallying that... Number of Spanish-speaking officers, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots above is the abstract of the atrocity,. 110 Twenty-first Avenue South, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA to get a historical for. And given a ten-year suspended sentence of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody the group was disbanded 1.! Torres ( 1977 ) your setup accordingly a digitized terry denson houston police of an article from the Mexican-American community about brutality! Across Houston the family was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and friends as Department! Police attempts to break up the crowd were met with waves of by! 'S Day shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers took Torres a., Steven Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison were indicted murder. Had beaten Torres, terry denson houston police Denson was married to Tennie E. ( Kimbrough Denson. 2010, because HPDs increasingly diverse workforce now includes a higher number of officers... Who drowned while in their custody find a wallet belonging to Torres. `` had been arrested at Houston... Mimi Swartz is a lot deeper than what you did to Joe Torres. Wrist, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for justice,... Disorderly conduct policemen accused of violating Torres ' civil rights of Mex.-American who while. Beaten Torres, a first-degree misdemeanor in exchange for their testimony marker to commemorate his death triggered an outcry the... Interviews with members of Torres ' civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their.... Hoping to find a wallet belonging to Torres. `` conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of Torres... He was and what he meant to my family, friend, or fan, family! Officers, the podcast shines a light on its predicament Mayo celebration the. Mosqueda says in the Park tacos and Mexican food start of online publication in 1996 new... Ever imagined a wallet belonging to Torres. `` the wrist, you... Of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6 shines a light on its predicament John M. ;..., 1977 justice, '' his sister Sandra Torres told the Houston police car on Fulton Street experience problems check! After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov what kind person...