Codey Harris

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16119C Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 3/23/2016 2:25 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Houston Police Agency Name: Agency Address: 1200 Travis Dept. Agency City: Houston Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77002 Director Information Director Salutation: Acting Chief Director First Name: Martha Director Middle Name: I. Director Last Name: Montalvo Off SA Reyes(Info Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] provided by Off I Ulloa) Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Codey Middle Name: Last Name: Harris Suffix: Date of Birth: 7/19/1994 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 21 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 2/25/2016 2:27 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 2/26/2016 2:39 PM 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) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Manner of Death: Suicide Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of the Head 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? Not applicable; cause of death was Who caused the death?: suicide, intoxication or illness/natural causes 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 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 8511 Leander St. City: Houston County: Harris Zip: What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: 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 Peace Officer 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: At medical facility Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: 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 with a Deadly Weapon Offense 2: Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: 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 weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- drugs): No Make suicidal statements?: Exhibit any mental health Exhibit any medical problems?: 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 No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession 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 Thursday, February 25, 2016, at approximately 10:39 a.m., East Side Patrol Officer E. Perez was dispatched to the 8511 Leander in regards to an Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Upon arriving at the location, Officer Perez spoke to suspect Cody Harris’ common-law wife, Ms. Gabriela Bautista, who advised him that Codey Harris had slapped her and threatened to shoot her with a gun. She said Harris grabbed his black revolver and said, "Bitch, I'll kill you. I don't give a fuck. I'll kill myself too!" Ms. Bautista continued and stated that she and the suspect’s step-father, Mr. Modesto Aldavera, gathered her two young children and got in Mr. Aldavera’s vehicle. According to Ms. Bautista, suspect Harris attempted to pull the kids out of the vehicle but was only able to twist her arm behind her. Ms. Bautista stated that they drove around the corner and then called the police. After obtaining Ms. Baustista’s statement, Officer Perez located suspect Harris in the back yard of the location. Officer Perez attempted to make contact with him, but suspect Harris ran into the house and barricade himself inside with his weapon. A perimeter was set up and SWAT and HNT were notified of a barricaded Suspect with a pistol. Upon arriving to the location, SWAT and HNT took control of the scene and proceeded with their investigation. HNT members made numerous attempts to convince suspect Harris to surrender but he refused to exit the house peacefully. Having obtained a written Consent to Search the premises earlier from the owner of the house, Mr. Modesto Aldavera, SWAT proceeded to make entry to the location. Upon making entry through the back door, SWAT members utilized a robot to search the interior of the house. Through the robot, SWAT members observed that the suspect had fallen through the ceiling in a bedroom while attempting to hide in the attic. SWAT members visually located the suspect hiding under a couch in the living room and once again established verbal communication with him. SWAT members made several attempts to convince suspect Harris to Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- surrender peacefully, but all efforts were unsuccessful. While SWAT was in the kitchen and Harris was in the living room, Harris threatened to shoot the K-9 dog if it was sent into the living room. After several minutes of negotiations, SWAT members heard two gunshots from under the couch where the suspect was hiding. SWAT members proceeded to clear the couch and observed the suspect Harris with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The suspect was later found to have one gunshot wound to the head and the second fired round was discovered in the wall besides the suspect. The revolver in Harris’ hand had two spent cartridge casings in it. Suspect Harris was immediately transported to Ben Taub Hospital where he was on life support and listed in very critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. On Friday, February 26, 2016, the Houston Police Department Homicide Division was notified that the suspect had been pronounced dead at 1439 hours as a result of the self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.  Suspect Harris’ criminal history includes a Possession of Marijuana in 6/11/2007, Possession of a Controlled Substance in 09/02/2008 in a drug free zone, Possession of a Controlled Substance in 06/13/2009, Possession of a Controlled Substance in 12/05/2013 and Driving while intoxicated in 03/08/2015. His criminal convictions and adjudications include, Possession of Marijuana, two Possessions of a Controlled Substance with one being in a drug free zone and one Driving While Intoxicated. Based on statements obtained from his immediate family members, suspect Harris had not been diagnosed with any mental disorders. The Mental Health Unit is being contacted and Codey Harris’ mental health status check is pending. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7