Former Missouri City police officer charged in killing

MISSOURI CITY, TX (KTRK) -- The former Missouri City police officer charged with killing a woman in front of her grandchildren while he was driving drunk, was back in court Monday.

Stephen Alan Cook, 45, was in a wheelchair. Though he wasn't injured in the crash on October 16 or hurt in jail, said Alison Baimbridge with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Cook appeared in court because the judge changed his bond conditions and he was assigned an attorney. Should Cook make his $150,000 bail, he will not be allowed to drive. The judge will also decide what alcohol monitoring device Cook will be assigned, since he won't be allowed to drink.

Investigators say Cook admitted to drinking 10 Bud Light beers the day of the deadly crash. He's charged with hitting and killing Evelyn Brown, 62, in front of her two grandchildren and future daughter-in-law. The family was parked on the side of the Southwest Freeway, refueling their car.

Cook was arrested for DWI not once but twice, which the DA's office says they'll take into account presenting this case.

"He was arrested back in 2007 for DWI. Fort Bend County reduced that case to what's called obstructing a highway. He got probation for that. In 2012, he also got another DWI and was convicted of that in Fort Bend County," Baimbridge said.

Cook is charged with intoxicated manslaughter and two counts of intoxicated assault. If found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison. He is due back in court in December.