HOUSTON—A trial date has been set for three former Houston
Police Department officers who are charged in the videotaped beating of a
15-year-old burglar.
Phil Bryan, Raad Hassan and Drew Ryser are due in court on
April 29. A judge denied a previous request for a venue change.
The three men were among six HPD officers who were captured
on surveillance cameras in March of 2010 arresting Holley. After Holley jumped
over the hood of a police car, he fell to the ground and put his hands behind
his head. Several officers pounced on Holley and proceeded to kick and hit him
both before and after he was handcuffed.
Once released, the now infamous surveillance video caused a
firestorm of controversy.
Civil rights leaders and Holley supporters rallied and
protested for justice. The incident also resulted in the firing of seven
officers, four of whom were charged.
Ex-officer Andrew Blomberg was the first to stand trial for
misdemeanor official oppression. His defense attorney, Dick DeGuerin, told the
jury during opening statements that Blomberg was a “hero” who was simply trying
to help restrain a burglar who was resisting arrest. A jury in May of 2012
acquitted Blomberg of the charges.
Two of the Houston police officers who were fired, Lewis
Childress and Guadencio Saucedo, regained their jobs through appeals. Neither
was charged.
Holley was convicted of burglary in juvenile court and put on
probation for the 2010 case. He was arrested again in June 2012 for allegedly
burglarizing another home with three of his friends.
The teen pleaded guilty for that offense on January 9, 2013
and his sentencing date was set for March 14. But when he arrived at the Harris
County courthouse to hear his judgment, he was taken into custody for an
outstanding warrant.