Reward of $100,000 offered to find information to bring cop's killer to justice

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Hilde Clark never thought she would have to speak out about finding her husband's killer again. However, Thursday afternoon, Clark stood with her family and members of the Houston Police Officers Union and did just that.

"We're asking the public to come forward with any new information for the arrest and conviction of the suspect who killed my husband, Charles Clark," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

The widow stood alongside the police union as it announced a $100,000 reward for finding the person who, 12 years ago, killed Officer Charles Clark during a check cashing robbery.

"We're here to ask for the community's help for information if it's out there and we're offering this reward because this is going to remain open, in the homicide division, until it's solved," said Captain Dwayne Ready, who supervises the homicide division of the Houston Police Department.

A decade ago, Alfred Brown was originally convicted of Officer Clark's murder and sent to death row. Brown had always said he was innocent. Within the last two years, a phone record that corroborated Brown's alibi was discovered in a Houston Police Detective's garage. A new trial was ordered. Last week, the Harris County District Attorney announced there was not enough evidence, and all charges against Brown were dropped. Brown was released.

"Last Monday was a very difficult and sad day, for the Clark family, and for everyone who's worked on this case," said Hilde Clark.

Investigators present at Thursday's announcement said they did not want to talk about the exoneration. Rather, they wanted to focus on this now open investigation and asked for information.

In the southeast Houston neighborhood where the shooting occurred, longtime residents remember that tragedy in 2003. Still, they think finding new information would be difficult a decade later.

"The people who know what happened, need to come forward," said Casey Carmon. "That's the only way, because I don't think anyone around here knows."