Interrupt a sheriff's deputy's beer? Prepare for a hailstorm of lead!

Houston Press ^ | February 5, 2004 | Richard Connelly

[Dog Gone]

When Harris County sheriff's deputies return fire, they really return fire. Especially if they're at a bar.

The December 27 drive-by shooting at the venerable West Alabama Ice House didn't get much notice from the media, it being just another bit of the gunplay that tends to liven up a night on the town here.

But gee, it sounds like it was fun.

Three off-duty deputies were at the icehouse about midnight, and things seemed quiet enough. Then a 1992 Ford pickup truck screamed down the street, with two twentysomethings in it, one of whom started firing a .22-caliber pistol.

The cops tried to get the license plate but couldn't, so they settled back to their table. Soon they heard the telltale sounds indicating the truck was about to make a second pass. "By that time the guys had loaded up and said, 'If he comes back again, forget about it, we're returning fire,' " says Burt Springer, the lawyer representing two of the deputies.

And did they ever. Somewhere around 40 shots' worth. Investigators reportedly ran out of the little markers used to identify spent shell casings and had to borrow paper cups. Basically, Springer says, the deputies emptied their guns.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but…all the shots missed. The truck was shot up like Swiss cheese, but neither the driver nor the trigger-happy passenger was hit. They were stopped a mile or so later -- not because they were driving a truck riddled with bullet holes, but because they ran a red light.

(Deputies do have to keep up their target-shooting qualifications in Harris County, but those tests are not taken in bars.)

Sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Robert Van Pelt says the department's internal affairs division is still looking into the incident, but Springer thinks nothing will come of it. Since no one was hit, the district attorney's office did not send anyone to the scene, making a grand jury review more unlikely.

Springer says the deputies had been at the bar only a short time and weren't drunk. Not that it would matter: "Even police officers who've been drinking are allowed to defend themselves," he says.

If only they could aim.

[taxcontrol]

While I understand most ranges do not have the facilities to train for hitting a moving target, 40 rounds distributed over what 16 sq ft? should have hit SOMETHING!

[snopercod]

ABC (radio) News just mentioned that 1 out of 21 Texans was either in jail or on probation. Hmmmmm...

[Squantos]

Anyone participatiing in a drive-by shooting should be charged with attempted murder ........buried in a unmarked grave !

Stay Safe 2.5 !

[Servant of the 9]

"Even police officers who've been drinking are allowed to defend themselves," he says. Wonder what would have happened in this case if they were private citizens?

In Harris County, Texas?
They would have been ticketed for carrying firearms in a place that sold alcoholic beverages.
And advised to take some lessons.

So9

[TYVets]

After the 21st round hit the truck I bet the perps were wanting to be somewhere else.

Even in jail !

[Flyer]

Deputy Dawg *PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

[In_25_words_or_less]

The truck was shot up like Swiss cheese

"You killed my truck!"

[snopercod]

Wait until they take daddy's truck back to him ;-)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

When I got my concealed permit, the only guy to flunk the shooting test was a former Houston cop.

[StriperSniper]

40+ plus rounds MISSED!!!!?????

Springer says the deputies had been at the bar only a short time and weren't drunk.

Maybe they should have had a couple shots waiting for the truck. ;-)

[going hot]

They were trying to get the hell out of Dodge.

Trying hard to stop LOL long enough to type. The kids probably did not even notice they were going through an intersection, never mind what color the effin light was. It will take more than a few days to get rid of the stink of kiddie poop out of the cab of that truck!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

ABC (radio) News just mentioned that 1 out of 21 Texans was either in jail or on probation. Hmmmmm...

It means we don't put up with the crap the rest of you people do. Hmmmmmmmmm......... oh and turn your flag right side up.

[Indie]

Wonder what would have happened in this case if they were private citizens?

Jail, even with a CHP.

[Prodigal Son]

The kids probably did not even notice they were going through an intersection, never mind what color the effin light was. It will take more than a few days to get rid of the stink of kiddie poop out of the cab of that truck!

Yep! My own mental images were similar. Eyes the size of dinner plates and a distinct funky smell coming from the cab of the vehicle.

[weegee]

It's the ice house that's been there since 1928 on Alabama near Shepherd. In fact I was hanging out there last night (I'd read this story earlier in the week).

[stevie_d_64]

Not much Gun Control in this one...

What gets me is that aren't there those things called "laws"...Yeah, those things...That are supposed to prevent silly little things like this from happening???

I always thought...And stop me if I appear to be an idiot...But mixing alcohol and firearms...hmmmmm

If those of us who may, or may not be licenced to carry a firearm for lawful purposes are not allowed to belly-up to the bar for a drink while carrying said piece...What is it about the Law Enforcement community that doesn't understand this??? At least from a practical standpoint???

Don't get me wrong, I have many associates in the Law Enforcement community; and I guess I could ask them about this incident, but feel it is not necessary to do so...

I guess we'll see how far this doesn't go...hehehe

Later,
Steve

[going hot]

I would have loved to be a witness.

They drive up, a second time mind you, with a pop gun, plink plink, and receive in return a literal hail of bullets. I know what catching round sounds like on a helicopter. The pucker factor is suddenly exponential. Now imagine these two yutes's faces as they look at each other in disbelief while their ride catches fourty rounds. I bet they were BOTH stomping on the gas pedal at the same time.

[stevie_d_64]

Good thing though...

Remember mama always said to keep a clean pair of skivvies in yer glovebox just in case you have an accident, or a drive-by where somebody actually shoots back at you...

hehehe

Later,
Steve

[Prodigal Son]

I bet they were BOTH stomping on the gas pedal at the same time.

Yep. Gunfire can be an amazing incentive. When I was a boy in Georgia my cousin and I were crossing the cornfield of a cranky old man as a short cut at night. He came out on the back porch and fired his shotgun in the air. It's a pity somebody couldn't have put a stop watch to my cousin and me because I'm sure we broke several records in the sprint and hurdle categories.

[weegee]

There's plenty of fresh dirt in the horseshoe pit beside the ice house.