Long time Harris County officer dies while off-duty during a shootout after he interrupted a catalytic converter theft on his own vehicle. -- (edited)
Posted by
Qale
Apr 1 '22, 06:39
|
An off-duty Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy died late Thursday following a gunfight that ensued when he approached three men who may have been trying to steal his vehicle’s catalytic converter as he grocery shopped with his wife in north Harris County, authorities said.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he was devastated by the death of the 51-year-old Darren Almendarez, who was assigned to the auto theft division and had served the office for approximately 23 years.
Two suspects were also struck — one was in stable condition and the other in critical condition late Thursday, chief deputy Edison Toquica said. They were detained at the hospital, while a possible third suspect remained at large, he said.
'OUT OF CONTROL': 6 Harris County police officers wounded, killed in one week
The three men appeared to be either stealing the deputy's truck or its catalytic converter in the parking lot at 2929 FM 1960 near Aldine Westfield, according to Toquica.
The deputy — who was there to shop for groceries with his wife — approached the men and shots were exchanged around 8:40 p.m,, Toquica said.
“[I]t appears one of our off-duty HCSO deputies witnessed suspects committing a criminal offense,” Gonzalez wrote in a tweet. “As the deputy approached, the males opened fire and our deputy returned fire.”
The homicide division, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and internal affairs all responded, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Absolutely heartbroken,” Harris County Judge Linda Hidalgo said in a tweet about the deputy's death. “My heart goes out to all our law enforcement family and to his loved ones.”
This is the fourth law enforcement officer to die in the county in 2022.
|
Responses:
|
