Armed Suspect Wounded at 6700 Airline

February 10, 2008 - Charges are pending against two suspects arrested following an attempted robbery that resulted in the wounding of one of the suspects by on-duty Houston Police officers at 6700 Airline about 2 p.m. on Monday (Feb. 9). 

Dante Terrell Williams (b/m, DOB: 5-2-80), was treated for a grazing wound at the scene.  Williams and a second suspect, Latonya Benetrice Polley (b/f, DOB: 10-29-83), face aggravated robbery charges. 

Officers M. L. Wisnoskie and L. Cortinas, both assigned to the North Patrol Division, discharged their duty weapons in this incident.  Officer Wisnoskie was sworn in as an officer in August 1983 and Officer L. Cortinas in January 2009.  Neither officer was injured in this incident. 

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant C. D. Howard and Officer J. Johnston and HPD Robbery Division Sergeant H. Mar reported: 

Suspect Williams entered a video store at 6700 Airline, pulled out a shotgun, pointed it at the store manager behind the counter and demanded all the money in the cash register.  Officers Wisnoskie and Cortinas responded to the robbery call and found Williams leaving the store.  Williams ignored officers’ orders to stop and get on the ground and instead pulled out a pistol-gripped shotgun from his waistband.  Fearing for their lives, Officers Wisnoskie and Cortinas discharged their duty weapons several times and Williams was grazed once in the shoulder blade.   Williams then ran from officers towards a waiting vehicle, driven by Polley.  Officers caught up to both suspects and took them into custody.   As Williams was being placed into custody, he continued to resist and was tasered during the arrest.  He was treated and released by HFD paramedics and taken into custody.  Polley was not injured in this incident. 

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

VHS/JFC
Inc. #020116209

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

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