HPD officer on leave over role in Capitol riot
An 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department was relieved of duty Wednesday and could face federal charges for participating in the Capitol takeover, Chief Art Acevedo said.
The officer, Tam Pham, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday and is scheduled for a disciplinary hearing Friday with the chief — though Acevedo expressed doubt that the officer will attend. He is expected to resign on Thursday, a police union leader said.
The Westside patrol officer was off duty at the time and seen wearing a mask and holding a Trump flag at the Capitol, Acevedo said. When reached by phone, Pham expressed exasperated regret about attending the riots and contends he was there to observe.
“I shouldn’t have done it,” Pham told the Houston Chronicle. “I was there to take pictures.” Details of what Pham did inside the Capitol were not known. He declined to confirm or deny Acevedo’s accusation that he entered the building.
“A lot of stuff happened that day,” Pham continued. “I wasn’t in the right mind.”
The announcement that
Pham may have had a role in the Jan. 6 insurrection comes as police agencies across the country started scrutinizing their rosters for signs that their sworn officers attended the deadly riots that left five people dead — including a Capitol Police officer. Federal charges have been lodged against two Rocky Mount, Va., police officers who were photographed among the mob who breached the Capitol building.
Officers in Seattle, Las Vegas and Maryland are also under investigation.
The violent siege forced lawmakers into hiding during an Electoral College tally to certify President-elect Joe Biden as the next commander-in-chief.
Acevedo said he received a complaint Sunday from a community member and then saw Facebook photos of the officer at the Capitol building. He then contacted the FBI about the officer.
“He got into the Capitol,” Acevedo said. “I’m highly confident he will face federal charges.”
Acevedo disclosed the accusation against Pham, but did not identify him, at a news conference outlining the department’s response to any demonstrations that could happen during or before the presidential inauguration. He said the officer was under review when asked whether he had relayed possible threats aimed at communities outside Houston to federal investigators.
The chief also said that authorities are keeping tabs on social media but no threats to Houston have yet been found. He said an FBI assessment has indicated a rise in domestic threats nationwide in the past year or so. Those threats, he said, stem from rightwing extremists and that it culminated in the takeover.
“Our region is a hot bed for militia-type groups and for hate groups,” the chief said, speaking of the federal intelligence.
Earlier this week, the FBI warned law enforcement agencies across the country about possible armed protests that could take place at state capitols starting this weekend — ahead of the inauguration, according to a memo obtained by ABC News. The warning was reportedly based on intelligence gathered from social media and other sources.
Officers in Houston — outside of those in undercover operations — will be required to wear their uniforms at all times starting 6 a.m. Friday, Acevedo said. The modified tactical alert, he said,
will continue through the inauguration — or after, as needed. Officers will not be allowed to take vacation days during that time.
Acevedo said he believes Pham — who had no known disciplinary issues — traveled to Washington alone.
“I can’t tell you the anger I feel at the thought of a police officer and other police officers thinking they get to go storm the Capitol,” the chief continued.
Doug Griffith, head of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, said the officer is expected to resign Thursday and that he most
recently worked Westside patrol.
“I’m very disappointed,” Griffith said. “If the allegations are true, he deserves to be penalized just like any other person would be. It’s a crime. It was a crime to enter the Capitol — he needs to face punishment for that.”
Acevedo continued to say he was aware of “a lot of folks” who went to Washington, D.C., from Houston.
The Chronicle has identified at least 20 people from the Houston area who have publicly disclosed on social media as having attended the riots — though it was not known if they entered the building.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick who represents the Southern District of Texas would not comment on any investigation or potential charges against anyone who may be suspected of participating in the Capitol riot.
He said U.S. Attorneys nationwide were on a call earlier Wednesday to coordinate with the Justice Department on these cases. The chief prosecutors will work with local FBI offices, he continued. The cases, he said, will be investigated and prosecuted out of Washington D.C.
“We would be in a support position to handle local arrests, appearances before a magistrate and execution of any search warrants or arrest warrants,” he continued.
Patrick said he was not yet aware of anyone being prosecuted in their local jurisdictions in connection to the Capitol insurrection.
As of Tuesday, federal charges have been filed against at least 27 people in connection to the siege, according to a George Washington University review of the cases. About 27 more were charged through Washington authorities.