Houston firemen put out fire of burning car flipped during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. At the time, the department was enmeshed in a series of police brutality scandals covered by Texas Monthly in an article titled, " New Gang In Town: What Happens When Cops Run Wild?". It's been 40 years since 23-year-old Vietnam War veteran Joe Campos Torres' body was found washed up on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou. This edited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV follows the grand jury investigation into the death of Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran. The Government appealed, arguing that probation was not permissible in cases where the possible penalty was life in prison, as it is in Federal civil rights cases in which the victim has died. Five months after Torress murder, an all-white jury found Denson and Orlando guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanor. Reuben Bonilla of Corpus Christi, who heads the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Texas, called the verdict "the most deplorable and unconscionable in recent memory," and said he fears Hispanic-American violence unless the Justic Department acts promptly to bring a federal case against the officers. This connection to Torres and to the officers on the Chicano Squad is what allows Alonzo to shine as a host. Service station vandalized by riotersduring riot at Moody Park. His body was found on May 8Mother's Day. info@texasarchive.org This is a carousel. Top 5 Sickest Stephen King Sex Scenes (NSFW), The 10 Best And Most Controversial Hustler Magazine Covers Ever (NSFW). "The community had this insurrection in the face of the brutality of the Houston Police Department," Carlos Calbillo, a community historian and filmmaker who made a documentary about the Torres case, told the Houston Chronicle in 2011. She blends vividly reported details of decades-old events with personal anecdotes of similar struggles. He said looters from the riot at Moody Park knocked out windows and forced the clerk to flee through the back of the store as the crowd looted. However, Houston's police chief issued a statement saying that "the processes of justice have prevailed over demagoguery.". Who Said It: Legendary Houston Comedian Bill Hicks or New El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks? Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. Its not uncommon for the stories of Latinos to be minimized or excluded entirely from Texas history books. His body was found days later. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. In 1977, Joe Campos Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. Killings, planted evidence and a federal discrimination lawsuit all provided the fuel that Torres' death set ablaze at an event known as the Moody Park Riot. 'I will never be the same, my family will never be the same. Two days later, his body was found badly beaten floating in Buffalo Bayou. On May 8, Mr. Torres's body was found floating in the bayou. Officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were indicted for murder on June 28. And though her mother instilled in her a love for the U.S., Alonzo was also aware that her identity as a Mexican American sometimes made her a target. 512-485-3073 In interviews with members of the Chicano Squad, the podcast shines a light on its predicament. A lot has changed since 1979 at HPD, but community policing is really important, Moravec says. Each to Serve Extra Day for Roles in Suspect's Death Judge Assailed as Too Lenient. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanor . Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. HPD is now hiring for our upcoming classes. Police grab an unidentified suspect believed to have thrown a brick during riot at Moody Park. The former policemen had been on trial in connection with the drowning death of her son. CBS Evening News for Wednesday, Feb 08, 1978 Judge Sterling, who issued the sentences today without comment, was appointed to the Federal bench by President Ford in 1976. Two of the officers who had beaten Torres, Terry W. Denson and Stephen. You were a victim [of a crime], so Im going to treat you as a victim. On the one-year anniversary of Torres' death, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. Truth about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when. Federal prosecutors termed the verdict a compromise, noting that the defendants were not found guilty of additional charges that they had conspired to obstruct justice by withholding information about the incident from Federal investigators. Divers search the Buffalo Bayou site where Joe Campos Torres' body was found floating May 8, 1977. When Black and Latino communities are asking for change, some people treat it like an impossibility, she says. The convicted former officers are Terry W. Denson, 27, and Stephen Orlando, 22. Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Nonetheless, Garcia said he is distressed by incidents, including the recent shooting deaths of a black police erroneously believed to be an armed robber and of a 16-year-old unarmed Mexican-American burglary suspect. Janie Torres is the sister of Jose "Joe" Campos Torres, who on May 5, 1977 was beaten and thrown into Buffalo Bayou by Houston police officers. 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. Reporters interview Harris County District Attorney Carol Vance, Divers search the depths of Buffalo Bayou for Torres' wallet, Protests outside the Harris County Courthouse. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 'Our ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point. Dairy Queen Gets an Updated Jingle, Courtesy of Josh Abbott, Check Out Kilgores Treasure Trove of Vintage Cameras, Radios, and TVs, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. local news and culture, Olivia Flores Alvarez Because the felony and misdemeanor sentences are concurrent, the three will probably serve less than a year in prison. According to the podcast, between 1950, when the police department hired its first Hispanic officer, and 1970, HPD had hired fewer than 20 Hispanic officers. We can only hope that the next congressional delegation brings along Sessions so that he, too, can learn the story of Joe Campos Torres and Chief Caldwell. Vanderbilt Television News Archive We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. We need to be honest about our history in order to learn from it, because decades later, the same thing is still happening., For decades before Torress murder, violent encounters with HPD officers had soured the relationship between the police department and the citys Black and Latino communities. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. Carrying picket signs reading "Protection not police brutality" and "Stop the war against Chicano people," the demonstrators were protesting the police-involved death of Jos Campos Torres. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. 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. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican-American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. Hernandez, Raymond Gonzalez, and Jose Selvera Jr. On top of their translating work in the field, the squad was also tasked with investigating 52 cases that experienced detectives on the force hadnt been able to crack. In the wake of Torress death, frustrated residents of Houstons barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. View other clips in this broadcast . The three former officers are to be sentenced late next month. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. "People rose-up and started throwing rocks and bottles at the police, overturning police cars and shouting 'Justice for Joe Torres' and 'Viva Joe Torres,'" Barthe said. And to this day, Morales remains skeptical that the Chicano Squad was the answer. Unfortunately, Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III has made it clear he has no interest in putting federal pressure on local police departments that need reform. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. The Houston Police Department first arrested Phillips's replacement, a Security Guard Services, Inc. employee named Robert Taylor. About 150 protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto on May 21, 1977 near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found just weeks before. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Facebook gives people the power to. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Surviving members of Torres' family also spoke on Sunday. Updated: June 20, 2015. For Alonzo, the Chicano Squad is a reminder that reform is possible, even if its difficult to sustain. After adjustments, if you continue to experience problems, please contact us. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. ', Torres' sister Janie said she was 10 at the time of her brother's death and that her family was never the same. Join Facebook to connect with Terry Denson and others you may know. The conflicts could have kept escalating were it not for Houston's new police chief, Harry Caldwell, who was hired a few months after the riot. REPORTER: Dennis Murphy (KHOU-TV) Artist: Harris Milam. The case, in which the officers could have received sentences of life in prison, has been the focus of many charges of police brutality against Hispanic citizens. Torres' mother was quoted as saying, "If five Mexican killed a cop, it wouldn't be like this. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. Carless Elliott, the only rookie cop at the scene that night, later recalled in court the words of one of his fellow officers, the last words Torres must have heard before his body plunged into those dark waters: Lets see if this wetback can swim.. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Torres' death and the light punishment the officers involved received would spark the infamous Moody Park riot one year later. Defense attorney Mike Ramsey and his client, Steven Orlando, follow. Calbillo is one of several people working to get a historical marker for Joe Campos Torres. We want to let the people know what kind of person he was and what he meant to my family,' Molina said. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. In 1978, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Moody Park erupted into riots. When you look at the records of some of their arrests, youll find lacerated livers, fractured skulls, broken hands. Its possible.. REPORTER: Walter Cronkite, (Houston, Texas) Background of case involving alleged beating of Joe Campos Torres, which resulted in his drowning, by officers Terry Wayne Denson, Stephen Orlando and Joseph Janish given. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights. Divers search the murky water of Buffalo Bayou in an unsuccessful attempt to find a wallet belonging to a southeast Houston man allegedly drowned by a policeman. (Studio) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody. An all-white jury found them guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanorand sentenced the officers. And as Mosqueda recalls, many non-Latino officers were happy to throw around the word wetbackthe same pejorative hurled at Torres before his death. In San Antonio, a Road Map for the Future of Texas Art, A Users Guide to All the Banned Books in Texas, Author John Graves Was a Literary Godfather to Texas Monthly, The Best High School Basketball Team in Texas Doesnt Need a State Title, The Photo the Dallas Cowboys Never Wanted the Public to See, Wouldnt People Like Some Good News?: The Lasting Popularity of Texas Country Reporter. See the article in its original context from. Sam Buyajian 33, surveys the wreckage of his drive-in grocery at 3814 Fulton. Consider it our city's version of the Ferguson protests. There, they brutally beat him for several hours. The squad did not have a single fatal officer-involved shooting during its three-decade tenure. Three days later, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 1977 his dead body was found severely beaten and floating in the Buffalo Bayou, a creek on the outskirts of downtown Houston. and help keep the future of the Houston Press, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, HPD Investigating Victims' Crime Advocate Andy Kahan, A Murder in Montrose: the Paul Broussard Legacy. Above is the abstract of the item that you're interested in viewing from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive's collection. "There has never been anything to mark (Torres' death) in a positive way," Torres' nephew Richard Molina, told the Houston Chronicle in 2014. 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. We can change these systems. It goes to show how those moments of crisis and scandal within our public institutions become important opportunities for forward-looking leaders. All six officers were found guilty of violating Torres' civil rights, and given a ten-year suspended sentence. Houston makes national news all the time. On January 15, according to a $100,000 damage suit filed by Robert and Alice Gleason, N. W. Holloway and his partner J. T. Olin were among several other cops who stormed into their Pasadena trailer. The officers involved were found guilty of negligent homicide and ultimately given a year and a day in prison for civil rights violations. Two Houston police officers stand guard over a wrecked convenience store at 3814 Fulton. The comments below have not been moderated. ", 40 years ago police killed Joe Campos Torres sparking massive Moody Park Riots. They couldnt fail. The city was quickly growing into the murder capital of the United States as a slew of unsolved killings in Houstons barrios piled up. The two officers convicted in the Torres' case are expected to be sentenced within a few days. When they brought him to the station, according to the testimony of a police sergeant on duty, Mr. Torres needed medical treatment. "'You're not going to take him and do what you did to Joe Campos Torres.". Bring on the Shiplap? 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105 https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/31/archives/3-former-officers-sentenced-in-texas-each-to-serve-extra-day-for.html. 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. But the Chicano Squad moved mountains with the little resources they had. The Justice Department brought civil rights charges against the three after Mr. Denson and Mr. Orlando were acquitted of murder charges in state court. Houston Police lineup in riot gearin the 1978 Moody Park riots.. Houston Police in riot gearin the 1978 Moody Park riots.. Houston police make arrests in the 1978 Moody Park riots. He drowned after being beaten by officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou. Protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found May 8. If you are experiencing playback problems, check the minimum requirements and adjust your setup accordingly. Looters struck the store during a riot that began at Moody Park. The 14-year-old was cowering against the wall when he was shot. HPD offers a rewarding career, exceptional benefits and a competitive salary. Chief Bond introduces possible disciplinary action against the offending officers through the civil service law, KPRC reporter Don Shelby speculates on the possibility of a second assault on Torres in between the time when officers brought him to the jail and when he ended up in the bayou. By John M. Crewdson; Special to The New York Times. Before that he was a member of the Houston law firm of Vinson, Elkins, to which John B. Connally, the Republican presidential candidate, also belongs. The other count, a misdemeanor violation of Mr. Torres's rights by intimidation, carries a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The judge received dismissed the case without explanation. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Testimony indicated that Oralando, who drove the patrol car in which Torres was transported, had encouraged Denson by "this would be a good time" to see if "the wetback" could swim. Police officers seen outside emergency entrance of Memorial Hermann following the fatal shooting of an on-duty Houston Police Department officer Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Houston. Rather than transport him to jail for booking, the six responding officers first took Torres to "The Hole," an isolated area behind a warehouse along Buffalo Bayou. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. The killing of Torres - a Hispanic veteran arrested at an East End bar - was the spark that set off a series of protests, firings and reforms that eventually transformed the Houston Police Department into the modern crime-fighting institution that we know today. Buffalo Bayou near Commerce St. Tuesday May 6, 2014. Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, drowned . The former officers have admitted that they beat their handcuffed prisoner for insolence before booking him. Articles about the drowning of Joe Campos Torres appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 15, 1977. Austin, TX 78751. The officers were eventually sentenced to nine months in prison, but tensions simmered for a year until they boiled over on the anniversary of Campos Torres' death. Judge Sterling has been criticized recently by some members of a Federal grand jury here that handed up antiracketeering indictments against two oilbrokering firms. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. Material supplied by VTNA may be used for educational analysis or research only. Family members and friends of his are working to win approval of historical markers at Moody Park to commemorate Torres' death and the community's reaction. Report: Houston is the No. 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. He was on duty at the time of the murder and HPD discovered he. 110 Twenty-first Avenue South, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA. After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. See the article in its original context from. Find Terry Denson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob arrives, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Report: Houston ranked No. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. View Terry Denson results in Texas (TX) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. His death and the light punishment the officers received would spark the infamous Moody Park Riot one year later. Brinkmeyer said Denson previously had boasted throwing a wino down a ravine and had beaten other hand-cuffed prisoners. Forty-five year struggle wins a bit of justice. Houston police officers administer first aid to Officer Tommy A. Britt, injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington and Fulton during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. Torres drowned after he had been arrested by Houston police officers for creating a disturbance in an East End bar. 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. His body would end up in the Buffalo Bayou, where it was found three days later. 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. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. Here are four Houston murders that made news and, in three cases, changed the justice system. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner apologized to the family of Joe Campos Torres for his death in 1977 in Houston police custody, calling it 'straight-up murder', Torres, a US Army Vietnam veteran, was 23 when he was arrested on May 5, 1977 for disorderly conduct at a bar, and beaten. The family was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and friends as . 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