Matt Degrood

Houston

Breaking News Reporter at Houston Chronicle

Dog dad to Molly Ivins. Native Texan. Lonestar enthusiast. Roma superfan.

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Articles

Houston police delays launch of new records system indefinitely

2 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

The technology set to replace the antiquated internal records system Houston police leaders said played a major role in a massive dropped cases scandal will be delayed. The new $31 million records management system, or RMS, was set to go online April 1, but city leaders said they have pushed back the launch date indefinitely after talking with police officials and deciding the agency was unprepared for the switch.
Shootout at downtown Houston courthouse wounds deputy and suspected shooter

3 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood |Nicole Hensley |John Ferguson

A deputy and suspected shooter were wounded Monday after a man with a weapon was seen approaching a family courthouse in downtown Houston, leading to a shootout, the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office confirmed. The armed man was walking from the area of the civil courthouse at 201 Caroline St., toward the Family Law Center, typically teeming with lawyers, courthouse workers and others during the busy lunch hour.
Deputy, Suspected Shooter Wounded in Gunfight at Houston Courthouse

3 days ago | officer.com | Matt Degrood |Nicole Hensley

A deputy was shot, as was a suspected shooter, Monday after a man with a weapon was seen approaching a family courthouse in downtown Houston, the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office confirmed. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he believes the deputy will survive, but offered no further details. No information was available on the condition of the suspected shooter.
Around 20% of HPD civilian staffers offered payouts to cut city spending

6 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

The civilian side of the Houston Police Department, already hollowed out after years of cuts and attrition, faces an exodus of as many as 181 staffers in the coming weeks as veterans weigh whether or not to take one-time retirement package offered by Mayor John Whitmire, his chief of staff said.
Houston DEA leader Daniel Comeaux named Dallas' next police chief

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

A longtime Houston-area federal law enforcement official is leaving to become Dallas' new chief of police. Daniel Comeaux, who headed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's Houston office since 2021, will take over as chief of the Dallas Police Department on April 23, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a press release.
Houston police are cooperating with ICE, experts say

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

A woman last month flagged down a Houston police officer to tell them about a car crash on Washington Avenue. The officer responded by calling federal immigration authorities on her. While ICE agents didn't respond and detain her, as they have in some similar instances, her story is one of at least 22 such cases, including calling agents on a woman stranded with her child at Hobby Airport, according to records obtained by the Chronicle.
Houston man's fight against an HPD speed trap may come down to safety vs. cost

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Daragh John Carter hates a speed trap near his home so much he began posting about it on Facebook before eventually escalating to standing near it and warning passing motorists it was coming. His actions frustrated a Houston police officer enough that Carter was cited for jaywalking, with the traffic police noting he was the resident who posted about the speed trap on Facebook.
ICE request for data on Houston drivers could lead to more deportations

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officials filed arecords request with the city of Houston last month for data on every motorist cited for driving without a license since 2023, according to documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
Here's what to know about your rights if you are stopped by ICE

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

A Tufts University student asked if she could call the police when she was approached by six people with their faces covered, before being told they were the police. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was then taken into federal custody and quickly moved to an ICE detention center in Louisiana, where she became the latest in a growing number of students who've had their visas revoked for participating in Palestinian protests.
Fort Bend deputy disciplined after 2 Black teens mistakenly detained

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office leaders cleared one deputy of wrongdoing and disciplined another after investigating a controversial detainment of two Black teenagers walking on a sidewalk. Deputy Jonathan Lopez was disciplined while Mason Koehler was cleared of wrongdoing, officials with the sheriff's office said in a prepared statement. Sheriff Eric Fagan didn't immediately respond to a request for files connected to the internal affairs investigation. Lopez received a written reprimand.