James Combs was charged in the August 2016 accident that killed Brian Manring.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office said Combs was found dead of an apparent suicide. A warrant was out for his arrest after he had missed a court date. Combs was discovered at his home.
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Combs worked for the Houston Police Department for six years, but was off duty at the time of the crash. He refused a field sobriety test following the accident. A judge issued a warrant, forcing him to submit to a blood alcohol test.
According to court documents, Combs' blood alcohol content was .17 -- more than twice the legal limit of .08. Combs' wife also told investigators he used their credit card at an after-hours strip club just before the deadly wreck.
Former HPD officer charged in deadly crash
Combs was ordered to wear an ankle monitor as a bond condition. If he had been tried and convicted, he could have faced up to 20 years in prison.
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