Outraged Mexican-American spokesman immediately called on the U.S. Justice Department to prosecute the case in federal court as a civil rights violation, for which the officers could receive up to life in prison. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. They were ordered to take him to Ben Taub General Hospital, but instead of doing so, the officers brought him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou and pushed him into the water. "There has never been anything to mark (Torres' death) in a positive way," Torres' nephew Richard Molina, told the Houston Chronicle in 2014. the Texanist, is a staff writer. Assistant District Attorney Ted Poe talks about coordination between the District Attorney's Office and the grand jury. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. They're dead, Michael C. Ramsey, one of the defense lawyers, said of the Justice Department's appeal effort, which he termed frivolous. Mr. Ramsey said he considered today's sentences a victory for the additional reason that the three defendants would no longer have to face the five years probation originally imposed by the Judge. The family was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and friends as . A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. Prince Harry 'hated woke nonsense' and 'made jokes we are no longer allowed to make' before meeting Meghan, Charles felt he had to act as king rather than as a father: REBECCA ENGLISH reveals why Charles backed moves Don't just stick to the Malbec! While speakers from the La Raza Unida party, the Texas Farmworkers Union, the Barrios Unidos en Defensa and the Torres family addressed the crowd, the father of the dead man, Joe Torres Sr., watched with his wife Margaret. October 7, 1977 Two former Houston policemen on trial for beating and drowning a Mexican-American prisoner in their custody last May were convicted by a jury today of misdemeanor charges that. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Terry W. Denson. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. But the Chicano Squad moved mountains with the little resources they had. Instead of being taken to jail, police took Campos Torres to "The Hole," an isolated area behind a warehouse along Buffalo Bayou where Houston Police Department officers could write reports, question suspects and sleep. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. HOUSTON, Feb. 8 Three former Houston police officers were found guilty in Federal District Court here today of beating a MeicanAmerican prisoner last May and then pushing him into a downtown bayou, where he drowned. Torres drowned after he had been arrested by Houston police officers for creating a disturbance in an East End bar. View the profiles of people named Terry Denson. Today, Campos Torres' family is working to erect an official marker to commemorate his death and the riots. Vilma Martinez, president of the MexicanAmerican Legal Defense and Educational Fund, also called for the judge's impeachment. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. On June 28, a Harris County grand jury indicted two of the officers, Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder and a third, J. J. Janisch, for misdemeanor assault. Any time in the penitentiary would be unacceptable, Mr. Bennett said, adding that Mr. Denson was an outstanding public servant to this community.. The former policemen had been on trial in connection with the drowning death of her son. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. ', Torres' sister Janie said she was 10 at the time of her brother's death and that her family was never the same. News car burns in background as youths prepare to burn Houston police car on Fulton Street. A number of people have since been tried. 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Torres was 23 on the night of May 5, 1977, when he was arrested for disorderly conduct at a bar, according to reports from the Houston Chronicle at the time. Terry Denson was married to Tennie E. (Kimbrough) Denson on October 28, 1971 in Harris County, Texas. A Houston Chronicle reporter and photographer joined the Northeastern Trail Riders Association to document the highlights and challenges of life on the trail during the group's 108-mile journey to the 2023 Houston Letter from the editor: Introducing our exclusive new newsletter, Black trail riders head to Houston rodeo parade after grueling, joyful 6-day journey. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. It's never had its own day, but is definitely something that should be remembered, a lesson of Houston history and among Mexican-Americans. Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, drowned . You were a victim [of a crime], so Im going to treat you as a victim. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. A gutted variety store at a shopping center in the 3100 block of Fulton. A local boat operator called the police, identifying Torres by the military dog tags still hanging around his neck. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Five of the officers were charged in the death, with two convicted of negligent homicide, and the other three convicted of violating Torres' civil rights. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. 'Our ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point. His death and the light punishment the officers received would spark the infamous Moody Park Riot one year later. 'My mother was never the same after Jose was killed,' his sister Janie Torres, who was 10 at the time her brother's death, said. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. Every passing month seems to bring news of some officer killing an unarmed young man - we're still mourning the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards in Balch Springs, a Dallas suburb. He drowned after being beaten by officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou. On May 5, 1977, Houston police arrested Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, at an East End bar for disorderly conduct. As news of the atrocity spread, Torress name became a rallying cry that united the citys Latino community in its search for justice. For years, [HPD] operated with impunity, he says. Join Facebook to connect with Terry Denson and others you may know. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. 1977 - Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. The squad did not have a single fatal officer-involved shooting during its three-decade tenure. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. Chicano Squad members recognized at City Hall, Houston, 2019. six responding Houston Police Department officers, one year of probation and fined them each $1. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, where jailers refused to process him due to his injuries. See the article in its original context from. Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Oops! Houston police officers during riot at Moody Park. HPD is now hiring for our upcoming classes. Powerful Commons committee could look at case for banning stoves in towns and Love Island hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints from furious viewers over 'toxic femininity' row and Movie Carrie Johnson joins campaign for Joanna Simpson's killer BA pilot husband who bludgeoned her to death with 'I don't know if I can trust them': Mel B reveals she 'wouldn't call the police' over domestic violence - Houston police chief Troy Finner formally apologizes to family of Joe Campos Torres over 1977 death - ABC13 Houston, Do not sell or share my personal information. They couldnt fail. Mr. Orlando and Mr, Denson were convicted last October of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, after a jury acquitted the two former police officers of the murder charge. More than 40 people were arrested during the riots, which became nationwide news and led to the creation of HPD's internal affairs department. Houstonians should take pride in knowing that a once-troubled department is now a model for the nation. He was on duty at the time of the murder and HPD discovered he. Officers Terry Denson (left) and Stephen Orlando (right) were the only two officers convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, in the death of Torres, and each was fined $1 and given. Adrian Garcia, former HPD officer and current Harris County commissioner, said some of his friends stopped talking to him when he joined the force, calling him a sellout. Three buildings in the shopping center were gutted by the fire. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. Updated: June 20, 2015. Note to sponsor members: The Vanderbilt Television News Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work properly. In 1977, Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. Caldwell agreed, greenlighting a three-month-long pilot program in August of 1979 with five recruits who now made up the Chicano Squad: Cecil Mosqueda, Robert Gatewood, U.P. Im not an immigration officer. Robert Bennett, attorney for Mr. Denson, who had been specifically charged with pushing Mr. Torres into the water, said that he would argue against a prison sentence for his client. October 18, 2016 After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. Police responded to a call at the park on the evening of May 7, 1978, and as the crowd began chanting Justice for Jose Torres, a riot broke out. The convicted former officers are Terry W. Denson, 27, and Stephen Orlando, 22. Host Alonzo, a self-proclaimed history nerd, often spent time in history classes in the Rio Grande Valley thumbing through her books trying to find important figures that looked like her. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. In interviews with members of the Chicano Squad, the podcast shines a light on its predicament. Instead, they returned him to the hole, where they continued to beat him, and where he was either pushed or fell into the bayou. An all-white jury found them guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanorand sentenced the officers. Looters struck the store during a riot that began at Moody Park. The city was quickly growing into the murder capital of the United States as a slew of unsolved killings in Houstons barrios piled up. Earlier this month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the appeal and ordered Judge Sterling to impose prison terms. ", 40 years ago police killed Joe Campos Torres sparking massive Moody Park Riots. Two days after Torres was arrested, his mangled body was found floating in Buffalo Bayou. CBS Evening News for Wednesday, Feb 08, 1978 The people would open their hearts towards us because we were able to communicate with them, Mosqueda says in the podcast. After adjustments, if you continue to experience problems, please contact us. That sort of exchange previously would have been unimaginable. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican-American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. This has destroyed all of us. Following another beating, Campos Torres was pushed off the raised platform and fell 20 feet into the Bayou, where his body was found three days later. The three former officers, Terry W. Denson, 29 years old, Joseph J. Janish, 25 and Stephen Orlando, 24, were found guilty in Judge Sterling's court last year of responsibility for the death by drowning of Joe Campos Torres, 23, a laborer. Torres' mother was quoted as saying, "If five Mexican killed a cop, it wouldn't be like this. In the case of [Torres], theres racism, theres extreme brutality.. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. On April 3, a plaza, a monument, a huge portrait, and a walking trail were all unveiled and dedicated to remembering a man brutally murdered by Houston police almost 45 years ago. About 100 persons rallied Saturday in front of the Houston police station to protest the sentences two former officers received following the death of Joe Campos Torres. It goes to show how those moments of crisis and scandal within our public institutions become important opportunities for forward-looking leaders. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. "'You're not going to take him and do what you did to Joe Campos Torres.". Terry Denson in Texas. You may visit the Television News Archive on the Vanderbilt campus to view on-site from the Archive's collection. They were ordered to take him to Ben Taub General Hospital, but instead of doing so, the officers brought him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou and pushed him into the water. Forty-five year struggle wins a bit of justice. The former officers have admitted that they beat their handcuffed prisoner for insolence before booking him. The Houston Police Department first arrested Phillips's replacement, a Security Guard Services, Inc. employee named Robert Taylor. 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