The Temple (Texas) police officer accused of shooting and killing Michael Dean has been arrested for manslaughter.
Carmen William DeCruz was charged by complaint with second-degree felony offense of manslaughter. This charge stems from events that took place on December 2, 2019.
According to a report filed with the Attorney General's Office, Officer DeCruz tried to pull Dean over for speeding on the night of Dec. 2, but the 28-year-old did not stop and “a short pursuit ensued,” states the report city police filed with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Dean eventually pulled over and DeCruz, 52, approached his PT Cruiser. Then “there was an altercation of some sort between” the men, the report states, and during it the officer’s “service weapon discharged” striking Dean.
The report does not describe the “altercation” further. It’s “unknown” whether Dean attempted to injure the officer or others, according to the report, but the most serious offense he would have been charged is “evading in a vehicle.”
Henry Garza, District Attorney, says the Texas Rangers' investigation developed facts and evidence which support the elements of manslaughter.
Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Michael Dean's family, said "The Dean family finds this charge wholly inappropriate given the evidence available in the case."
DeCruz has been taken into custody and a bond has been set at $500,000 by Justice of the Peace Duffield.
Garza says the case will be presented to the Bell County Grand Jury for their review and deliberation at an appropriate time in the future.
This article was written by Sydney Isenberg KXXV .
