February 5, 2019 - Houston police are investigating an incident in which an officer discharged a less than lethal weapon at an armed suspect that occurred at 9141 South Freeway (State Highway 288) about 6:20 p.m. on Monday (February 4).

The suspect, Cavin Cruise, 36, who then jumped from the freeway overpass, suffered multiple broken bones and was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital in critical condition.

HPD Special Investigations Unit Detectives R. Gonzalez, M. Glover, D. Hobson and E. Contreras reported:

HPD patrol officers were dispatched to a Traffic Hazard call at State Highway 288 and Reed Road after a caller reported a man, armed with a knife, was running through traffic on the freeway shoulder.

Upon arrival, officers attempted from a safe distance to de-escalate the situation by talking to the suspect (Cruise).  The officers could see Cruise behaving erratically, leaning over the freeway's concrete rail, swinging a large knife and making repeated suicidal comments. 

When Cruise moved a few feet from the concrete barrier, an officer attempted to subdue him by discharging his less-than-lethal bean bag shotgun.  Cruise dropped the knife, took a few steps toward the railing and appeared to purposely lunge over the concrete barrier, falling to the intersection below.  

As is customary in incidents in which an officer discharges a weapon at a suspect, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit and the Internal Affairs Division.