Christopher Timothy Carroll

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 18-1174-C Version Type: AMENDED 11/28/2018 8:22 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Houston Police 1200 Travis, 16th Agency Name: Agency Address: Dept. Floor Agency City: Houston Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77002 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Art Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Acevedo Reporter Name: Kimberly Fowler Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Christopher Middle Name: Timothy Last Name: Carroll Suffix: Mr. Date of Birth: 2/5/1988 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 30 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 10/22/2018 1:35 Incident: AM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 10/27/2018 2:06 Death Date and Time: AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- Homicide) Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Penetrating gunshot wound of torso with perforations of heart, lung and aorta Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 2811 Eagle Creek City: Houston County: Harris Zip: 77345 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Residence/Home What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel during/fleeing arrest What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: No What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Aggravated Assault on Peach Officer Offense 2: Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Medical / Mental Type of Offense: Health assistance call At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Decedent Display or Use Displayed firearm Weapon Details: without discharge At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Yes (select all that Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To law enforcement Injure Others: personnel At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: Unknown drugs): Exhibit any mental health Yes Exhibit any medical problems?: Yes problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or Yes Yes standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Yes No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On Saturday October 27, 2018 at approximately 12:42 a.m. Houston Police Officers assigned to the Kingwood Patrol Division were dispatched to 2598 Rustic Woods Drive in reference to an Urgent Welfare Check/CIT call. The reportee, and employee of the U. S. Department Veterans Affairs Crisis Hotline, contacted police when he became concerned about a suicidal crisis hotline caller, later identified as Christopher Carroll, who had cut himself and was now armed with a handgun. Kingwood Patrol Officers proceeded to this location, but were unable to locate the individual as the location was only the approximate Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- GPS coordinates of the caller. Kingwood Patrol Officers were able to identify a possible address of 14 New Greens Court, as it was linked to the crisis hotline caller's phone number, and proceeded to the residence. Kingwood Patrol Officers made contact with the homeowner, Mrs. Melissa Kane, who informed officers her son-in-law, Christopher Carroll, was currently experiencing a mental health crisis. Mrs. Kane explained Mr. Carroll was at this residence, 2811 Eagle Creek Drive, and her husband, Michael Kane, had gone to his home to help calm him down. While speaking with officers, Mrs. Kane was on the phone with her husband and confirmed her son-in-law and cut himself with a knife and was armed with a gun. On scene officers notified all other responding units of the developments and requested Houston Fire Department medical personnel begin responding to 2811 Eagle Creek Drive as they proceeded to the residence. Kingwood Patrol Officer S. Dalton, Officer K. McGruder, Officer E. Hines, Sergeant M. Waggoner, and Sergeant E. Pavel, all arrived at the residence a short period of time later. Upon arrival, officers approached the front door of the residence and made contact with Michael Kane, who identified himself as the father-in-law of Christopher Carroll. Mr. Kane confirmed his son-in-law had cut himself with a knife and was armed with a gun. On scene officers notified all other responding units of the developments and requested Houston Fire Department medical personnel begin responding to 2811 Eagle Creek Drive as they proceeded to the residence. Kingwood Patrol Officer S. Dalton, Officer K. McGruder, Officer E. Hines, Sergeant M. Waggoner, and Sergeant E. Pavel, all arrived at the residence a short period of time later. Upon arrival, officers approached the front door of the residence and made contact with Michael Kane, who identified himself as the father-in-law, Christopher Carroll. Mr. Kane confirmed his son-in-law was currently experiencing a mental health crisis, had been consuming alcohol, and was now armed with a handgun inside of the home. During the conversation with officers, Mr. Kane expressed concern of approaching his son-in-law with weapons drawn as he may feel threatened and can be easily agitated. Mr. Kane admitted he has already attempted to convince Mr. Carroll to put down his weapon to speak with officers as he entered the home and began searching for him. Mr. Kane discovered Mr. Carroll was no longer in the home and informed officers the only person he found was Mr. Carroll's 16 month old daughter. After learning there was a small child inside of the home and the whereabouts of the armed suicidal veteran was unknown, officers directed Mr. Kane to remove his granddaughter from the residence while they began setting up a perimeter. While standing in the driveway of the residence, Sergeant Waggoner heard a noise that was consistent with a door closing or opening. The noise came form behind the home in the gated portion of the back yard which leads to a detached garage. Sergeant Waggoner attempted to look into the backyard of the home, but the high fence and low lighting restricted his vision. At this point, Sergeant Waggoner and Officer Dalton entered the backyard through the walk-through gate while calling out to Mr. Carroll. They searched the backyard and the detached garage where they believed Mr. Carroll has entered. After clearing the detached garage, Sergeant Waggoner and Officer Dalton exited the walk-through garage door they had entered. As Sergeant Waggoner was exiting the garage, he observed Mr. Carroll lying in a prone position in the bushed adjacent to the exterior wall of the detached garage. Mr. Carroll was naked, had a handgun in his hand, and was pointing the firearm in the direction of Sergeant Waggoner. Sergeant Waggoner and Officer Dalton took cover behind limited available spaces in the back yard and began giving verbal commands for Mr. Carroll to 'drop the gun." Sergeant Pavel heard the commotion occurring in the backyard of the residence and ran to assist Sergeant Waggoner and Officer Dalton. Sergeant Waggoner, Officer Dalton, and Sergeant Pavel spoke with Mr. Carroll for several minutes while attempting to deescalate the situation. They stated multiple time for Mr. Carroll to 'drop the gun" and attempted to get him to surrender. Mr. Carroll informed the officers he had the "drop" on them while they were searching for him and could have shot them at any time. Mr. Carroll stated he had pointed his gun at the officers during their search and would use his firearm if he felt threatened. During the interaction with Mr. Carroll, officers were able to convince him to stand up from his hiding position in the bushes and move slightly out of the bushes. Mr. Carroll then placed the gun on the top rail of a small fence surrounding an area behind the detached garage. this prompted Officer Dalton to move into the grassy area of the backyard for a better view while continuing to give verbal commands to move him away from the weapon. Mr. Carroll refused to comply with any of the officers' instruction and eventually picked the gun up from the fence with his left hand before pointing it in the direction of Officer Dalton. Officer Dalton believed Mr. Carroll intended to inflict serious bodily injury or death upon him, via the firearm in his possession, and discharged his duty weapon one time. Mr. Carroll was struck in the chest by the firearm and immediately collapsed to the ground. Officer Dalton removed the handgun from his possession while nearby Houston Fire Department medical personnel on standby responded to the scene to render medical aid. Mr. Carroll was transported to Lyndon B. Johnson hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. Mr. Carroll's mental health history was checked by the Houston Police Department's Mental Health Unit and determined to have no previous contacts with police related to his mental health. Further investigation into Mr. Carroll's mental health is to follow as on scene family members indicated he suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder related to his service in the United States Army. Family members stated Mr. Carroll received Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 8 --- PAGE BREAK --- psychological treatment from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and had met with psychologist only hours before this incident. Custodial Death Report :: Page 8 of 8