WEBSTER, Texas – Three Webster police officers were indicted by a grand jury on official oppression charges.
Between the three of them, they've got less than ten years on the job with the Webster Police Department. And it was a single call Sept. 27th involving a domestic dispute, according to a source, that's got them in hot water.
"They were trying to get the situation under control and it went bad from the get-go and he was just not cooperating," said Asst. Chief Thomas Claunch.
According to court documents, Officer Colin Murphy hit the man in the neck with his gun, then kicked him in the head. Officer Daniel Bassett Tasered him too long and unnecessarily. And Officer Peter Behler, court documents state, hit the man again with a gun and kicked him.
Local 2 Investigates has learned through a source the man who was injured that day was armed. And while Webster's acting police chief wouldn't provide details, he called the incident an attempted suicide-by-cop.
"This wasn't just a normal citizen," said Asst. Chief Claunch. "I believe so. He wanted, he wanted to die."
The police department itself forwarded the case to the district attorney. The three men are on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
The victim's attorney told us the victim was in the process of giving himself up. The attorney says the victim suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized for several weeks.
There is video of the encounter between the man and those police officers. It has been forwarded to the district attorney.
Court dates are pending for the three officers, who remain free on $1,000 bond each.
Murphy, 25, has four years of service with the department, Behler, 25, has two years, and Bassett has three years of service.
