HOUSTON, Texas – In a pivotal moment in the trial of former Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines, both the prosecution and defense have rested their cases.
The trial centers around the controversial 2019 Harding Street raid that resulted in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle, Rhogena Nicholas, and their dog.
The prosecution painted a picture of Goines’ actions leading up to the raid.
Key testimony came from Goines’ former partner, Steven Bryant, who revealed that a sergeant wore a non-departmental body camera during the raid. However, Bryant admitted to never seeing the footage himself. This claim was ultimately dismissed by the judge due to lack of evidence.
Noon
Both sides have rested.
11:01 a.m.
Haselberger testified he was at a fast food restaurant when the deadly raid happened and was called over the radio to go to the scene. He describes the scene that night as “chaotic.” He and other officers were asked to process the scene. He confirms they did not have body cams. They, approximately 5 officers, were not able to get into the home until approximately 4:30 a.m. as they were waiting for others to finish.
10:50 a.m.
Houston Police Department Officer Frank Haselberger is on the stand for the defense. He is in the gang division but previously worked with the narcotics division.
10:32 a.m.
Detective Rodriguez is off the stand
Note: Although a defense witness, the state - specifically Manning - did a very effective job getting Detective Rodriguez to confirm that none of the texts read by the defense had a connection to the search warrant and admits there was no way for Goines to have ever seen the text messages presented because they were downloaded from Nicholas’s phone weeks after the raid.
10:29 a.m.
Rodriguez was the lead detective on this case. DeBorde has her confirm the state never reached out to her to testify. However, the state did have Sgt. Rick Bass - her supervisor - testified at great length. It was Bass whose name was the only one listed on multiple warrants involving this deadly raid.
10:28 a.m.
Manning passes Rodriguez back to the defense.
10:18 a.m.
Manning asks Detective Rodriguez -- The phone records don’t change the fact that Dennis Tuttle’s and Rhogena Nicholas’ Constitutional Rights were violated. Rodriguez confirms by answering, “Correct”.
10:05 a.m.
Tanisha Manning questions Rodrguez immediately as to whether any of the information she read was pertinent to the investigation into a fake warrant. Rodriquez confirm there was no connection.
Rodriguez has yet to dispute any of the questions asked by the State.
Rodriguez confirms there is no connection between Goines and Dennis Tuttle as well as Rhogena Nicholas in any of his body of work or city-issued cell phones.
Not a single confidential informant according to Rodriguez was able to tie Goines to any kind of investigation at 7815 Harding Street prior to the raid.
She also confirms to the jury there is no evidence of Gerald Goines at the house on the day he claimed to have been at 7815 Harding Street to make a purchase. Manning then asks Rodriguez to explain why this was important and Rodriguez - a defense witness - explains it’s important in his criminal charge of creating a fake warrant.
10:03 a.m.
Defense Attorney Nicole DeBorde has the witness - HPD Special Investigations Unit investigator Emma Rodriguez - read text messages where a woman texts Rhogena Nicholas in the middle of the night asking if she has a digital scale and Nicholas confirms by text that she does.
9:40 a.m.
The defense pens up with continued testimony from their second witness. The defense is examining text message conversations involving Rhogena Nicholas and various recipients. The defense is having their witness examine and read several text messages attempting to lay out that Nicholas was a consistent drug user.
If you missed a day or two, get caught up with our daily blogs that follow what’s happening inside the courtroom:
Day 9: Defense begins presenting case in Gerald Goines murder trial
Day 8: Autopsy photos shown in Goines trial for deadly Harding St. raid
Day 7: Jurors hear from Texas Ranger who investigated deadly Harding St. raid
Day 6: HPD detective says no evidence Gerald Goines fired firearm during deadly Harding St. raid
Day 5: Defense questions thoroughness of Harding St. home search after deadly raid
Day 4: Gerald Goines’ former HPD partner, Steven Bryant, drops bombshell during emotional testimony
Day 2 of Gerald Goines murder trial: State drilling down on initial 911 call that got things going
Day 1: Ex-HPD narcotics officer’s lies led to deadly Harding Street raid, prosecutors argue
KPRC 2 Investigates team Reporter Mario Diaz, Senior Investigates Producer Jason Nguyen, Senior Special Projects Producer Andrea Slaydon, and Digital Content Specialist Ninfa Saavedra will be at the trial dishing out the latest updates for ‘The Bench: Gerald Goines.’
