November 13, 2014 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested after he fired shots at a Houston police officer and stole the officer's patrol vehicle at 10650 Hempstead Road about 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 12).

The suspect, Patrick Ray Castro (H/m, 26), is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant in the 176th State District Court.  A photo of Castro is attached to this news release.

The officer who discharged his duty weapon, C. Massey, was not injured in the incident.  Senior Police Officer Massey, assigned to the Gang Division, was sworn in as an officer in October 1991.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeants C. Sturdivant, J. Racus and Senior Police Officers L. Lovelace and D. Arnold reported:

Officer Massey was on duty, in full uniform and driving a marked patrol unit when he was flagged down by a motel employee at the above address.  The employee advised the officer that a male and female at the motel had been ordered to leave the property, but refused to do so.  The couple was sitting inside a black sport utility vehicle in the motel parking lot.  Officer Massey positioned his patrol unit behind the black SUV and observed both the male passenger and female driver to be acting erratically, and that both appeared intoxicated.  The officer exited his patrol vehicle, initiated contact and attempted to detain the couple. 

As Officer Massey approached the male passenger, the male pulled out a handgun and pointed it directly at Officer Massey.  The officer stumbled backward (injuring his wrist) and took cover behind a nearby vehicle.  He pulled his duty weapon and ordered the male suspect to drop the handgun.  The suspect told Officer Massey that he was not going to jail and that he would either kill the officer or the officer would kill him.  Officer Massey continued to order the suspect to drop his weapon, but the suspect refused, continued to point it at the officer and declared he was not going to jail, he was not afraid to die and that he would kill the officer.  Simultaneously, Officer Massey saw that a citizen was inside the vehicle he had sought cover behind.  Realizing the citizen would be in danger should the suspect discharge his weapon toward him, Officer Massey withheld his own gunfire.  The suspect then jumped into Officer Massey's patrol car and drove through the motel parking lot, striking another vehicle as he fled.  Officer Massey discharged his weapon at the suspect, striking the patrol unit's windshield as the suspect fired back at the officer.  The suspect drove the patrol car to the 4900 block of Creekmont where he crashed into a tree. When the suspect attempted to flee on foot, several citizens detained him until police arrived and placed him under arrest.  The suspect's gun was recovered at the accident scene.  Additionally, the suspect was found to have three outstanding felony warrants.  The female passenger was not injured and cooperated with the investigation.  She is not charged with any crime at this time.

As is customary when an HPD officer discharges a weapon in the city limits, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions.

JFC/VHS 11-13-14
Inc #144326514