HOUSTON – A man who was jailed after allegedly stabbing a police dog has also been charged with murder in the death of his father according to court documents.
Ryan Mitchell Smith, 26, was wanted for questioning in the death of his father, Cameron Smith, before he was located about 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, authorities said. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper located Smith walking on the side of the road on Highway 159, near Bellville, Texas. Smith was then taken into custody without incident.
During interviews with detectives, Houston police said Smith admitted to his role in his father’s death by striking him in the head with a dumbbell.
Timeline of events
Smith was bonded out of jail on Sunday by family members after allegedly stabbing a police dog .
On Monday morning, family members were concerned that they hadn’t heard from Smith’s father and went to his house in the 14700 block of Carolcrest, where police said Smith had also been staying. Police said family members who went to the house didn’t find anything of immediate concern-- except his cell phone, which was unusual and likely why they had not been able to reach him.
Authorities said they got involved on Monday, met with family members again, and didn’t find anything immediately.
While officers were on the scene, HPD said they noticed a pickup truck belonging to the apparent victim. When detectives got closer, they saw Smith behind the wheel of the vehicle. He took off at a high rate of speed and was being followed by homicide investigators with the Houston Police Department. Detectives said they waited for marked officers to show up to pull him over. That was followed by a chase that ended in a crash in the Memorial Park area. HPD said Smith took off on foot and managed to escape.
A loaded hunting rifle was discovered in the vehicle, police said. Officers said they found Smith’s father at the Carolcrest home in the garage Tuesday morning around 5:20 a.m. The man had apparent head trauma, according to police, and the body was concealed from view.
Smith is now charged with murder and evading arrest, according to court documents.
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