Suspect Charged With Assault on a Family Member and Felony Criminal Mischief

Recently, Westside Division Patrol officers responded to an assault in progress at a store at 1500 Eldridge Pkwy, after a citizen alerted an HFD firefighter to a man assaulting a woman in the parking lot of the store. The firefighter asked for HPD to respond.

Officers arrived and found the victim locked in the business bathroom and the suspect standing outside. Since initial information indicated the suspect had assaulted the victim, officers gave immediate commands for the suspect to place his hands behind his back.

The suspect refused verbal commands and instead, gripped the water fountain that was attached to the wall. Officers placed one handcuff on the suspect’s left wrist, but the suspect pulled his hand away and placed it back on the water fountain. Officers continued to give verbal commands to the suspect, even as he actively resisted arrest. His grip on the water fountain caused it to break. With the assistance of HFD and other officers on the scene, the suspect was finally taken into custody.

During the struggle, the suspect swung his right elbow and struck one officer in the eye and lip, causing injuries. 

The victim told officers that she had gotten into a verbal argument with the suspect, as he wanted her to move out of their residence. She said he grabbed her arm and pinched her so hard she felt pain and had been violent with her in the past. She did not exit the store bathroom until the suspect was in police custody.

The firefighter witnessed the suspect push the victim several times, including pushing her into the window of the store. The firefighter also witnessed the victim run away from the suspect into the store with the suspect chasing her. 

The suspect was charged with assault on a peace officer, assault family violence with a prior conviction, and felony criminal mischief.

Great collaborative work getting a dangerous suspect into custody. 

K9 Moxie Helps Make an Arrest

Recently, Central Patrol Division officers responded to a robbery call at 2200 Fulton. The victim had given three men a ride to a local store. After arriving, he asked the suspects to leave his vehicle, but one grabbed him and forcibly threw him out of the vehicle to the ground. The suspects left with the victim’s vehicle.

The next day, Central Patrol Division officers saw the victim’s vehicle parked at a business at 2200 Airline. Officers confirmed the vehicle was listed as stolen and went inside the business to investigate. One witness, who reported seeing two males exit the vehicle and go into the business, pointed out one of the men inside. 

Officers approached the suspect and began speaking with him. The suspect became visibly agitated, pacing back and forth. Officers attempted to place the suspect in handcuffs but, he began to back away and then fled on foot. The suspect ran out through the back of the business and ran southbound as officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to stop.

The HPD K9 Unit, including K9 “Moxie,” responded to the scene to provide assistance and perimeter was set up.  As HPD K9 searched the area near 1800 Napa, Moxie showed signs that the suspect was near and led his handler to a small storage shed.  As Moxie tried to enter the door of the shed, the suspect pushed it closed.   The officer gave verbal commands for the suspect to exit the shed, which the suspect initially ignored. 

Moxie made entry into the shed, and the suspect began fighting with Moxie. The suspect pushed his way out of the shed and attempted to flee on foot again, but Moxie held on to the suspect. He eventually complied with officers’ verbal commands and was taken into custody without further incident. 

The suspect was charged with evading arrest on foot, which is a felony because of a prior conviction, and attack on an assistance animal, which is also a felony. 

Great work by all involved to get this suspect into custody.

Clear Lake Patrol

Clear Lake Patrol officers were recently dispatched to a robbery in-progress call at a convenience store at 11000 Fuqua Street.  The caller said there was a male inside the store with a knife. The first officers to arrive saw a male inside the store with blood dripping from his hand. All customers had been able to exit the store safely.

Officers quickly noted that the suspect did not have a knife, but witnesses reaffirmed that the suspect had a knife when he first entered the store. Officers entered the store and gave the suspect verbal commands to put his hands up.  Initially, the suspect complied when given verbal commands, but when officers went to put on the second handcuff, the suspect became aggressive and pulled officers off balance.  One officer deployed a a conducted energy device (CED or "Taser") on the suspect, but it had no effect.  A second CED deployment also had no effect. 

The suspect continued to struggle with officers.  A third CED deployment proved effective, and officers were able to place the suspect into custody with the help of bystanders.

No charges were accepted on the suspect as it appeared he had a mental episode or was under the influence of an unknown substance.  The suspect was transported to an area hospital under an Emergency Detention Order.

Great job by these officers to get this suspect safely into custody with no injuries to anyone.

Violent Domestic Abuser Taken Into Custody

Recently, Southeast Patrol officers responded to a disturbance at 4700 Wenda Road. Due to previous incidents at this location, two officers from the Robbery Division Violent Offender Squad also responded. Officers learned that the victim’s estranged boyfriend, Donald Demouchette, 29, was sitting outside her residence in his vehicle and quickly took him into custody.

The victim, 34, had filed two previous reports against Demouchette. Just nine days before, she said Demouchette had punched her, causing a black eye, and then stole her vehicle. A week later, the woman reported Demouchette strangled and physically assaulted her.

Upon learning Demouchette was outside her apartment, the woman called police.  She told our responding officers this was now the third time he had come to her apartment and she was scared. Based on those two previous encounters, officers were able to obtain charges  for assault on a family member and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. After the second assault, Demouchette was also charged with continuous violence against the family.

Demouchette was found in possession of methamphetamine when he was arrested and as a result also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Great work by these officers to get this violent suspect off of the streets!

At the time of his arrest, Demouchette was on bail for evading arrest in a vehicle, driving while intoxicated, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. These charges were filed between February and November of 2019.

Demouchette has prior convictions for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated.