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Houston officers shoot at bar owner: Armed man mistaken as a suspect in possible break-inAug 14, 2010 (Houston Chronicle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Houston police responding to a possible break-in at a burglary-plagued Clear Lake tavern fired two shots at an armed suspect Friday morning after the man chambered a round in his pistol when the officers identified themselves as police. Both shots missed the man, whom police identified as an owner of Smokin J's Sports Bar, 550 FM 1959. Day bartender Michelle Larrison said the man was Smokin J's co-owner Paul Black. Black did not respond to requests for comment. Police spokesman Kese Smith said an officer staked out at the business summoned two officers from the department's Crime Reduction Unit to the scene after spotting suspicious activity at the tavern at about 4 a.m. As the uniformed officers arrived in a marked car, they saw a man leaving the business via a rear door. They ordered him to stop, Smith said, and the man froze, hands reaching skyward. Police then saw a second man leave the building through the same door. When they identified themselves as officers and ordered him to drop his weapon, though, the man racked up a round and raised his pistol, Smith said. Both officers fired a single shot, missing the man, who then dropped his gun and darted back into the tavern. Moments later, he again came outside and was taken into custody without further incident. At the sound of the gunshots, the first man, identified by Larrison as bar employee Chris Trahan, fell to the ground. A third man, who was not identified, was found inside the tavern. The police officers involved in the incident have been identified as Jennifer Frank and Christopher Rohling. Smith said the episode will be reviewed by homicide detectives and internal affairs. Typically, Smith said, officers involved in shooting cases are placed on three days' desk duty, but these officers will remain on full duty because no one was injured. Smith said the tavern owner and employees said they believed the officers were burglars. Larrison, a six-year employee of the tavern who said she was fired Friday for talking with media, said Smokin J's has been burglarized five times since February. A sign posted near the front door warning that the site is under video surveillance has not deterred thieves, who repeatedly bashed through the front door to rifle the juke box and other electronic amusements. Larrison said no cash from the register or liquor was taken in the burglaries. The bartender said Black and Trahan had been in the bar counting receipts at the time police arrived. The tavern, which features karaoke, live bands and dart nights, is located in a strip shopping center adjacent to the entrance of the Sycamore Valley subdivision. [email protected] To see more of the Houston Chronicle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.HoustonChronicle.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Houston Chronicle Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |