Houston drug cop"s lies lead to deadly raid in 2019

In January 2019, a drug raid in Houston led to the tragic deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, who were wrongfully accused of selling heroin. The raid was instigated by Gerald Goines, a narcotics officer with a history of dishonesty. Goines falsely claimed to have a confidential informant who purchased heroin from the couple's home, but investigations revealed he had not even visited the location prior to the raid. Surveillance footage contradicted his statements, showing he was elsewhere at the time. Goines also fabricated details about a nonexistent firearm at the residence, which contributed to the approval of a no-knock warrant by a municipal judge. The judge later stated he would not have authorized the warrant had he known the truth about Goines' lies. Despite claiming to have conducted a thorough investigation, Goines failed to verify basic facts about the couple or their home. During the raid, Tuttle was napping when officers forcibly entered, resulting in the death of his dog and ultimately the couple. Goines was shot during the incident, which prevented him from potentially planting evidence to support his false claims. His actions raised serious questions about the integrity of the police force and the warrant approval process. Following the raid, Goines resigned after over three decades on the force, highlighting the systemic issues within the Houston Police Department that allowed such misconduct to persist for years. The incident underscored the dangers of relying on dishonest officers and the tragic consequences that can arise from their actions.