Chinese diplomat injured during arrest

HOUSTON A Chinese diplomat ended up in the hospital after Houston police officers arrested him at the Chinese Consulate parking garage in Montrose Saturday. Since then, three HPD officers have been placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an investigation.

Multiple sources tell Eyewitness News that the diplomat, Deputy Consul General Yu Boren, was driving back to the consulate office when an HPD officer noticed a back license plate was missing. The officers then pursued Yu's car into the parking garage of the Chinese Consulate and tried to arrest him.

During the course of the arrest, Consul Yu sustained injuries to neck and arms and sent to Memorial Hermann Hospital for treatment. Sources tell Eyewitness News that the injuries were superficial, and Yu was treated and released. Yu's wife, Deng Qinghua, was in the car during the incident but unhurt.

Mayor Annise Parker's office says HPD and the U.S. State Department are coordinating the investigation into the arrest. According to the City of Houston, the officers involved have stated that they were unaware the building Yu entered was the Chinese Consulate.

"Police Chief (Charles) McClelland acted quickly and is taking all the appropriate steps in this situation," said Mayor Parker in a prepared statement. "In addition to working with the state department, he is issuing a directive that all beat officers receive the addresses of every consulate in the city. This is important as Houston has the third largest number of consulates in the country. We cherish our international residents and want to assure them they are welcome in our city."

ABC13 reached on the phone Thursday night a Chinese Consulate representative who said the Chinese government expects the U.S. to abide by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In addition, the Chinese Government is also working with the U.S. State Department on this issue. The Consulate also emphasized the importance of the Sino-US relationship.