Former Houston officer accused of lying faces murder charges after botched raid

Editor’s Note: Since this story was published, former Houston police officer Gerald Goines was convicted of murder in the deaths of a couple during a 2019 drug raid on their home, according to The Associated Press. CNN — A former Houston police officer who authorities said lied to obtain a search warrant for a raid in which two people died and five officers were injured has been charged with murder, a prosecutor said Friday. Gerald Goines, who had a 35-year law enforcement career, faces two felony murder charges, said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Goines obtained a warrant for a “no knock” raid from a municipal judge under false pretenses, which included claiming a criminal informant purchased heroin from a man at the address the day before and that the man selling drugs was known to have a gun, among other things, which meant there was no need for police to knock on a door before entering, Ogg said. Bryant has cooperated with the investigation and “we will defend him in court.” Police Chief Art Acevedo in February said the department will change its policy and now require officers wanting to conduct a raid without knocking on the suspect’s door or ringing the doorbell to get approval first from the chief or the chief’s designee.