HOUSTON – Step into the courtroom for the trial of former Houston Police Narcotics Officer, Gerald Goines, where shocking revelations continue to surface. No cameras are allowed in the courtroom until closing arguments begin.
Goines is at the center of a case involving a deadly no-knock raid on Harding Street in January 2019, where falsified documents led to the deaths of Rhogena Nicholas, Dennis Tuttle, and their family dog. The raid ended in a bloodbath—four officers were shot, and another was injured.
The trial, now underway in Judge Veronica Nelson’s court, has seen bombshell testimony.
On Wednesday, Officer Valeriano Rios dropped a major revelation: former police chief Art Acevedo instructed him to turn off his body camera at the scene of the raid. Defense attorney George Secrest played the chilling 45-minute footage that ended capturing Acevedo’s directive. The very next day, Goines’ partner, Officer Steven Bryant, corroborated the claim, stating Acevedo told multiple officers to shut off their cameras.
In response, Acevedo took to X, where he blocked KPRC 2′s Mario Diaz, while vehemently denying any wrongdoing. He cited a change in HPD policy that came after the botched raid, but his actions are under intense scrutiny.
On The Bench, our legal analysts Kevin Petroff, Casey Gonzalez, and Rick DeToto weighed in, questioning why the cameras were turned off at such a critical moment. Gonzalez posed the question on everyone’s mind—where is the missing footage from the officer who wasn’t using a department-issued camera?
As we dive deeper, we explore the controversial warrant behind the raid. Petroff highlights how courtroom procedures have evolved since the incident, while DeToto points to a judge’s recent move to demand verbal statements from officers before issuing a no-knock warrant.
This is a case that has captured attention and raised critical questions about police procedures, accountability, and justice. Watch the full episode to catch up, and tune in each day to find out what is happening in the courtroom as the case against Gerald Goines continues.