Ex-HPD officer indicted on assault charge linked to 2019 traffic stop.

Indictment stems from a 2019 traffic stop in which handcuffed man fled from police

A former Houston police officer has been indicted on an aggravated assault by a public servant charge in connection to a 2019 traffic stop, according to authorities.

A grand jury indicted the former officer, Lucas Vieira, last week — about three months after he was “indefinitely suspended” from the Houston Police Department. The suspension followed the filing of a federal lawsuit aimed at Vieira, former police chief Art Acevedo, two other officers and a sergeant.

The charge stems from a July 7, 2019, traffic stop — detailed in the lawsuit — involving plaintiff Aundre Howard, civil rights lawyer Randall Kallinen said.

Howard — who was handcuffed — bolted during the traffic stop.

Vieira and two other officers gave chase, during which Vieira shouted for another officer to shoot the man. Kallinen contends that fear from that caused Howard to defecate, according to the lawsuit.

A profanity-laced statement of that nature can be heard on body-worn camera footage from the encounter.

The 23-second video clip, which Kallinen provided, then shows Vieira hitting Howard in the head with handcuffs as he was apprehended.

The officers, Kallinen continued, pulled Howard’s pants down for passing motorists to see — a moment that is not revealed in the brief clip of body-worn footage. The lawyer notes in the lawsuit that no officers intervened.

Howard was charged with drug possession and evading arrest from the July 7 incident. Both charges were dismissed this January in the “interest of justice,” court records show.

Vieira is listed as the officer from whom Howard fled, according to charging papers.