Both are facing pretty serious charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and accepting bribes for protection services.
Officer Emerson Canizales didn't have much to say when we asked him if he wanted to make any kind of comment as he left the federal courthouse in downtown Houston Monday afternoon.
"No sir," said Canizales. "I'm sure."
Nor did Officer Michael Miceli.
"You can get out of my way though," said Miceli.
Both of them looked at the U.S. marshals' paperwork and pretrial issues. They were both arrested Sunday after a federal grand jury came back last week with an indictment against the two.
"I know it was a combined investigation between our proactive unit and a federal agency that led to charges on these two," said Douglas Griffith with the Houston Police Officers' Union.
Local and federal investigators say Canizales and Miceli were in on a plot to possess cocaine and get $1,000 for protection.
Neither has gone to the police union for help and a union spokesman says it's out of their hands.
"This would not be course and scope. We cover things like course and scope when officers are being accused of violations of policy," said Griffith.
Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland released a statement which read: "We have been working cooperatively with federal authorities on this investigation and are proud that our internal proactive measures have proven effective in addressing these types of allegations. We will never tolerate criminal misconduct from any of our employees. Both officers have been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the Internal Affairs investigation. The allegations against these officers are not reflective of the hard working men and women at HPD. Since this is still very much an ongoing investigation, there will be no further statements until its conclusion."
___________________________________________________________
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices
