HPD Officers Citywide to Arrest Those With Outstanding Warrants

June 15, 2009 - The Houston Police Department has a message to those who have ignored numerous warnings and have warrants out for their arrest:  Pay your fines or be handcuffed by an officer at your place of business or home and be taken to jail.

Officers will begin a warrant sweep in neighborhoods and businesses throughout the city and urge anyone with an outstanding warrant to go to any of six Municipal Courts annexes to take care of their business, or take advantage of more convenient options by paying their fines online, over the phone or by postal mail.

“We prefer those individuals with warrants to avoid the embarrassment of an officer coming to their workplace or home to arrest them in front of their coworkers or family members,” said HPD Assistant Chief John Trevino.  “Our goal of publicizing this warrant sweep is to avoid having our officers make such arrests and to have those with warrants come forward and clear their names before it’s too late,” he added.

“It is unfortunate that individuals with outstanding citations now face arrest,” said Judge Berta Mejia, director and presiding judge of the Municipal Courts.  “The City of Houston Municipal Courts provides various options to individuals to assist them in resolving their delinquent traffic citations, including the recent amnesty period, which just concluded. With the impending Warrant Sweep announced by HPD, I strongly urge anyone with outstanding warrants to come in and resolve their citations instead of facing arrest.”

For more information about warrants or citations, visit www.houstontx.gov/courts or contact the City of Houston’s Helpline at 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 if outside the City of Houston.

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200 .