Former HPD officer Goines taken away on a stretcher after medical issue interrupts penalty phase
Gerald Goines, convicted last week in the botched 2019 Harding Street raid, appeared to have a medical issue Thursday.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Convicted murderer and former Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines appeared to have a medical issue during his sentencing phase Thursday.
Goines was taken away on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance after a disturbance was reported in the courtroom.
Because of an ongoing gag order, no additional information is being released on what the medical issue may be.
"It's one of the most stressful events anybody could ever go through," said veteran Houston criminal attorney Kent Schaffer, reacting to the incident in the courtoom. "Which begets the question of how did these people feel who were innocent that he (Goines) came in and testified in their trial, and put them away, how did them and their family members feel? Did they have punishment and cardiac problems? Probably."
Schaffer says while medical emergencies are not that common in courtrooms, they do happen. It was announced Thursday afternoon that court proceedings will not resume until Monday. At that point, prosecutors are expected to finish their closing arguments, and the jury will have time to deliberate a sentence.
"I don't think it will get much sympathy for him," said Schaffer. "I mean, look. Jurors are smart. They're going to say, okay, so the guy had a bad reaction to what's going on, but he put himself in this situation. He's responsible for the deaths of two people, and God knows how many people who were locked up and prosecuted who shouldn't have been locked up or prosecuted."
Goines was convicted last week for the murders of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas during the botched Harding Street drug raid in 2019.
Dennis and his wife, Rhogena, were killed in a shootout with police.
It was on Jan. 28, 2019, when a Houston police narcotics unit, led by Case Agent Gerald Goines, broke open the door of the Tuttle home at 7815 Harding Street, trying to serve a no-knock warrant. Goines lied on an affidavit to justify the search warrant, claiming the couple was dealing heroin.
Jurors have heard from members of the victim's family, as well as Goines' supporters, including former first lady of Houston Elyse Lanier and her daughter, Courtney Lanier Sarofim.
Goines took care of Mayor Bob Lanier for years, helping with his basic needs over the last few decades. Both women testified they consider him part of their extended family.
Wednesday's intense testimony from family members included Dennis Tuttle's son, Ryan Tuttle, who spoke about his dad's love for his family.
Rhogena Nicholas's sister-in-law, Patricia Nicholas, also took the stand. Her husband, John Nicholas, was the last surviving sibling after Rhogena was killed.
READ MORE: Murder trial jury hears from those wrongly put away by former HPD officer during punishment phase
Goines faces up to life behind bars.
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