Scott Lance Bennett

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16152C Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 4/13/2016 3:23 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 Reporter Name: (Info provided by Reporter Email: [email protected] Lt. KJ Deese) Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Scott Middle Name: Lance Last Name: Bennett Suffix: Date of Birth: 8/21/1986 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 29 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/17/2016 6:45 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/17/2016 6:55 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) Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Gunshot Wounds of the neck, back, chest, left upper extremity, left leg and right hand 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 staff 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 Rifle/shotgun 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 Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 11314 North Fwy 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? At the crime/arrest Death Location: scene General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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 Robbery 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) 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 No Make suicidal statements?: drugs): Exhibit any mental health Exhibit any medical problems?: problems?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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 March 17, 2016, at about 10:00 am, Officers K. R. Huey, J. M. Williams, B. A. LeBlanc, J. D. Calhoun, and R. A. Caldera were assigned to the North Division Tactical Unit. The unit was investigating aggravated robberies in the area. On this date the unit was surveilling a vehicle that was identified as belonging to the robbery crew. A gray van, that was determined to be stolen, was being used by the suspects to case several businesses in the North and Northeast areas of the city earlier in the day. Around 6:30 pm the suspects pulled into a large retail area in the 11300 block of the North Freeway. The suspects drove around the area and cased several businesses as possible robbery targets. All along the suspects were being surveilled by the Tactical Unit. Due to the density of the businesses surveillance became difficult. The Tactical Units lost sight of the suspects as the van turned north bound on the North Freeway service road. The Tactical Units started to head toward possible targets when Officer Williams saw the suspects’ van in front of a strip center that contained the Affordable Furniture store. When the units neared the van they could see it was unoccupied and the suspects were in the Affordable Furniture store committing a robbery. The strip center is oriented north to south and the stores face toward the freeway. Officer Huey was parked at the south end. Three other Tactical Units entered the parking lot and faced their cars toward the stores keeping back about 60 feet from the stores. Officer Huey, armed with an AR-15 rifle, exited his vehicle, and started to walk north along the front of the businesses using the parked cars as cover. Suddenly the two suspects started to exit the front door of the Affordable Furniture store. Officer Huey saw the suspects had their head and faces concealed and one of the suspects was holding a gun. Officer Huey yelled “Police” then engaged the suspects with rifle fire. The suspects Jones, Young, Bennett, Nelms and White-Leonard started to run north along the front of the businesses out of Officer Huey’s view. After hearing several gunshots Officer Huey saw Jones run back south toward his position with a raised gun in his hand. Officer Huey engaged Jones with a single rifle shot. Jones tossed the gun and fell to the ground. At the time a box truck was backed up the front doors of the Affordable furniture to deliver mattresses. Young entered the back of the box truck and hid. The position of this truck blocked the view between Officer Huey and the other three Tactical Units that were situated to north. A silver pistol was recovered from the box truck where Young was hiding. Officer Calhoun, also armed with an AR-15 Rifle, heard gunshots then saw three suspects, Bennett, Nelms, and White-Leonard running north along the front of the stores. The suspects had their face and head Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- covered. Bennett took cover on the side of a parked car. Officer Calhoun engaged that suspect with rifle fire. When Bennett fell to the ground he made rapid overt movements to reach under a parked car. Believing that Bennett was reaching for a weapon, Officer Calhoun fired again. Bennett died at the scene. No weapon was recovered from Bennett. Officer Caldera was riding with Officer Calhoun. Officer Caldera, also armed with an AR-15 rifle, engaged Nelms who were armed with a black pistol. Officer Williams and his partner, ATF agent John McDonald, were positioned just north of Officers Calhoun and Caldera. Officer Williams, armed with an AR-15 rifle, heard gunfire and saw Nelms running toward him armed with a pistol. Officer Williams engaged Nelms with rifle fire. Nelms collapsed and died at the scene. ATF agent McDonald did not discharge a firearm. Officers LeBlanc and Mihalco were positioned farthest to the north. Officer Leblanc was armed with an AR-15 rifle. White-Leonard ran toward him and Officer Mihalco, Officer LeBlanc could see a shiny object that White-Leonard was grasping with both hands. Officer LeBlanc engaged White-Leonard with rifle fire causing him to fall to the ground, but retain the shiny object in his hands. Officer LeBlanc ordered White-Leonard to drop the gun, but he maintained possession of the shiny object. Officer LeBlanc fired his rifle again causing White-Leonard to throw the shiny object. White-Leonard was taken into custody and the object was determined to be a cell phone. A criminal history check of the suspects reflects: Bennett, Scott Lance is a documented gang member of the Tree Top Piru Bloods and his arrests include aggravated assault, assault family member, burglary of vehicle, theft, theft of vehicle, possession of controlled substance evading arrest, escape, unlawful carrying a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, criminal trespass, and harassment of public servant. Nelms, Christopher Demond is a documented gang member belonging to the 59 Bounty Hunters and his arrests include aggravated robbery, burglary, theft from person, manufacture/deliver possesses controlled substance, possession of marijuana, evading arrest, evading arrest in vehicle, and criminal trespass. Young, Lontay Lavelle is a documented gang member belonging to the Bloods and his arrests include aggravated robbery, burglary of a habitation, burglary of a business, criminal mischief, possession of controlled substance, evading arrest, fail to ID, escape driving while license invalid, and criminal trespass. White-Lenard, Ross Anthony has arrests for possession of marijuana, driving with license invalid and a class C misdemeanor Jones, Barry Lloyd has arrests for theft, theft from person, forgery, criminal mischief, evading arrest, unlawful carrying weapon, and interference with emergency request for assistance. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7