Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. On the night of May 5, 1977, Houston police officers arrested Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, at an East End bar for disorderly conduct. Surviving members of Torres' family also spoke on Sunday. WHERE ARE THEY NOW:A look at prominent figures in the Rodney King riots, "What happened was when the police came in to arrest some people, and actually took somebody, people said 'No,'" then-rookie cop Harold Barthe told Houston Public Media in 2008. Three buildings in the shopping center were gutted by the fire. Houston firemen fight blaze which was reportedly set by rioters in the 4400 block of Fulton. We can change these systems. Protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found May 8. 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. A new podcast explores the history of the Chicano Squad as part of a Houston police department effort to repair its broken relationship with the Latino community. 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 will cost each no more than a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. (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. 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. Campos Torres was beaten by six officers for hours before they took him to the city jail. And those who chronicled the attack said the executioner was. But Glenn L. Brinkmeyer, 25, one of those given immunity and an officer in whose wedding Denson had served as a groomsman, testified that Denson had pushed Torres. Two Houston police officers stand guard over a wrecked convenience store at 3814 Fulton. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Margaret Torres, mother of Joe Campos Torres, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Houston police station Oct. 8, 1977 to protest the verdict handed down by a Huntsville jury in the the murder trial of former Houston policemen Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando. "The environment that created the Torres case continues to exist," Garcia said, "and we can expect a continuation of the same kind of thing.". 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. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. 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. 09/13/1977 - Fired HPD officer Terry Denson, right, arrives for court at the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University where his trial for the May 6 murder of Joe Campos . 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. The appeals court did not specify the severity of the sentences to be imposed, however, and John Wilson, a Justice Department spokesman in Washington, said that no further appeals would be forthcoming because the judge had acted within the limits of the order.. 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. Any time in the penitentiary would be unacceptable, Mr. Bennett said, adding that Mr. Denson was an outstanding public servant to this community.. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. 110 Twenty-first Avenue South, Suite 704 Nashville, TN 37203, USA. At least 22 persons were arrested at a city park after violence broke out in the chiefly Mexican-American neighborhood following a disturbance which led to vandalism and bottle throwing among the estimated mob of 1,500 persons. Members of Houstons Latino community described the light sentences as a slap in the face. On the first anniversary of Torress death, protests reached a fever pitch during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Moody Park. They were able to gain the trust of victims and witnesses because they knew how Hispanic Houstonians really lived.. Holland, 80, previously was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Elliott later became a prosecution witness at both trials. However, Houston's police chief issued a statement saying that "the processes of justice have prevailed over demagoguery.". The pain is a lot deeper than what you could have ever imagined. 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. 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. Terry Denson in Texas. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Many segments are silent and would have been voiced over by the anchorperson during a live broadcast. Defense attorney Bob Bennett and his client, Terry Denson, exit the courtroom to deliver comments to the press. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner comforts Margarita Campos Torres, the mother of 23-year-old Jose Campos Torres killed by police in 1977, as they stand in front of a trail at 1301 Commerce with an Army photo of her son dedicated in his honor April 2 in downtown Houston. Two of the officers who had beaten Torres, Terry W. Denson and Stephen Orlando, were charged with murder. 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. All six officers were found guilty of violating Torres' civil rights, and given a ten-year suspended sentence. By John M. Crewdson; Special to The New York Times. Im not an immigration officer. Find Terry Denson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Two additional officers at the scene, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, were suspended from duty but granted immunity by the state in exchange for their testimony. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. According to Houston police, they got a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. After learning of Mr. Torres's death, Carless Elliott, a 20yearold rookie police officer who witnessed the incident, reported what he had seen to his superiors. Houston firemen fight a blaze which was reportedly set by rioters in the 4400 block of Fulton. Calbillo is one of several people working to get a historical marker for Joe Campos Torres. The group cleared forty homicides by the end of 1979 and later earned the recognition of the National Latino Peace Officers, in 1997, when they solved 91 percent of the cases theyd been assigned. He said it demonstrated once again that there is "a dual standard of justice" in Texas, adding, "Our only redress in the federal courts.". After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. Defense attorney Mike Ramsey and his client, Steven Orlando, follow. 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. "All those cops, they just got a slap on the wrist, and you know what? 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. | In the wake of Torres's death, frustrated residents of Houston's barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. 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. 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.. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, who refused to process him due to his injuries. The summer of 1979, detective sergeant Jim Montero floated an idea past HPD chief Harry Caldwell: if he got permission to recruit a small group of Spanish-speaking patrol officers, he could train them to serve as translators in the field, helping the department to close the growing number of unsolved crimes in Houstons barrios. "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. Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. Houston's Chicano community found the fine especially hard to swallow, with chants of "A Chicano's life is only worth a dollar," reverberating through the neighborhood and throughout the country's Mexican-American communities. If you are associated with a college or university, you may ask your library if they would like to become a sponsor, which would give students and faculty at your institution the ability to view items from our collection. Dozens were arrested and 15 were injured as protesters clashed with police in one of the citys most notorious riots. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. There, the officers beat Torres, bruising and bloodying him to the point that when they finally drove him to the city jail, officials there wouldnt process him, telling the officers to take him to a nearby hospital. On an overcast evening in early May 1977, 23-year-old Vietnam War veteran Jose Campos Torres was in handcuffs for drunk and disorderly conduct at a cantina in Houstons East End. When police attempted to make an arrest at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Moody Park, attendees began throwing rocks and overturning police cars. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Top 5 Sickest Stephen King Sex Scenes (NSFW), The 10 Best And Most Controversial Hustler Magazine Covers Ever (NSFW). 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The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. ,The allwhite jury of seven men and five women was in its second day of deliberations after a trial conducted by Judge Ross N. Sterling, and had deliberated for a total of seven hours before reaching the verdict. 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. Note to sponsor members: The Vanderbilt Television News Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work properly. The Houston Police Department first arrested Phillips's replacement, a Security Guard Services, Inc. employee named Robert Taylor. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Houston. 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Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. His body was found days later. This connection to Torres and to the officers on the Chicano Squad is what allows Alonzo to shine as a host. 512-485-3073 Austin, TX 78751, Grand Jury Investigation into the Death of Jos Campos Torres (1977). Carlos Calbillo sits on railing near Buffalo Bayou near Commerce Street, the area where his friend Joe Campos Torres was killed by police in 1977. By the following morning, 28 demonstrators had been taken into custody. In 1978, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Moody Park erupted into riots. One of the counts, involving a violation of Federal civil rights laws in which death results, is a felony, with the maximum sentence life in prison. 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. Articles about the drowning of Joe Campos Torres appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 15, 1977. 'I will never be the same, my family will never be the same. Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. While Bond says that he "cannot create a police review board," the Houston Police Department established the Internal Affairs Division soon after Torres' death to investigate police misconduct. On May 8, Mr. Torres's body was found floating in the bayou. The Houston Police Department Chicano Squad, founded in 1979 after the killing of Jose Campos Torres. Buffalo Bayou near Commerce St. Tuesday May 6, 2014. . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. A number of people have since been tried. 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. This unedited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the Houston Police Department headquarters on May 16, 1977. Anyone can read what you share. Rishi Sunak is urgently reviewing his private exchanges with Matt Hancock after bombshell leak of ex-Health 'Drinks cold in fridge at DH!' Three buildings in the shopping center were gutted by the fire. Any editing, reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws. 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. A group of Houston police cadets gathered Friday morning to hear family members of Joe Campos Torres speak of their loved one's death by officers in 1977. . Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the states Latino community. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. Houston police officers give first aid to officer Tommy A. Britt who was injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington and Fulton during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. Judge Sterling has been criticized recently by some members of a Federal grand jury here that handed up antiracketeering indictments against two oilbrokering firms. "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. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. The sergeant said he told the officers to take the prisoner to a nearby hospital; instead, they took Mr. Torres back to the 16foot embankment overlooking Buffalo Bayou near downtown Housotn, where they had beaten him. Leave them blank to get signed up. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. That sort of exchange previously would have been unimaginable. Officer Terry Denson reportedly used . The three former officers are to be sentenced late next month. There, they brutally beat him for several hours. 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. Two days later, his body was found badly beaten floating in Buffalo Bayou. In addition to having a strong work ethic, Montero said, the officers should hail from the neighborhoods they would be policing. For justice Department probe noted to process him due to his injuries from... And Steven Orlando, were charged with murder six, initially only officers Denson... Or public display May be prohibited terry denson houston police copyright laws TX 78751, Grand jury here handed., music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, the! By John M. Crewdson ; Special to the officers then took Torres to the New York Times then Torres! 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