Person of interest arrested in Harris County beating death

HARRIS COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A 13 Eyewitness News exclusive -- our cameras captured the arrest of a person of interest in a Harris County homicide.

Josue Leal's head was planted in the hood of a sheriff's SUV on Friday afternoon in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County deputies say Leal was arrested for a parole violation. Harris County deputies say he's also a person of interest in a northwest Harris County homicide.

Thursday night, friends of Kevin Bartlet discovered the 43-year-old dead inside of his home on Chelsea Elm Court.

"He was very loved. He was good to people. He took people in," said Tanya Hawley, Bartlet's roommate.

Hawley said Leal and her daughter, Leal's girlfriend, were at the home last night.

"They were the only ones here at the time," said Hawley.

Bartlet's car was missing and so was Leal, until investigators caught up with both in Montgomery County.

Bartlet's friend said he will be missed.

"He brought me through a lot of hard times in my life," said Hawley.