Houston Police Department

April 6, 2005 -- Charges have been filed against a suspect who fled from an off-duty Houston police officer at 3100 Rogerdale about 10:35 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2005.
No one was hurt when the officer discharged his weapon when the suspect turned towards him in a threatening manner.

The suspect, Albert Melancon (b/m DOB: 11-02-78), has been charged with evading arrest in Harris County Criminal Court #6 and possession of a controlled substance in the 180th State District Court.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M.K. Peters and Officer A. J. Palos reported:

Off-duty officer B.R. Baker was working an approved extra job when he saw several suspicious males in a parking lot located at 10400 Richmond. There were three black males in a tan colored Chevrolet Tahoe and one male in a small white four-door vehicle. Two males exited the Tahoe and walked towards the white vehicle. The third male from the Tahoe approached the officer and told him that he had just been robbed.

The small white vehicle sped off from the location and the two males ran after it. One of them jumped into the white vehicle and the other one, Melancon, ran off. The off-duty officer chased Melancon on foot. The officer gave Melancon several verbal commands to stop, but he refused. The officer observed Melancon reach in the area of his waistband when they approached a grassy area at 3130 Rogerdale. Officer Baker feared for his safety. When Melancon turned towards him, the officer discharged his weapon at Melancon, but missed him. The suspect continued running and Officer Baker chased him and took him into custody without further incident.

Officer Baker, who was sworned in as an HPD officer in May 2003, is assigned to the Jail Division.

As in all officer-involved shootings in the city limits, this incident is being investigated by the HPD Internal Affairs and Homicide Divisions, as well as the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Anyone with information on this incident or the whereabouts of the other suspect(s) is urged to contact the Houston Police Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

JGA/JFC 4-6-05
Inc#052104805

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.