Left to right -
Supervising Captain Ron Silvio
Robyn Tooley
Sgt. Rodney Tooley
Greg Walker, Esq., ARM, CPP

On Tuesday, October 3, 2006, Detectives assigned to the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force and Deputies assigned to the Crime Control Division attempted to locate a suspect wanted for felony drug charges. The suspect was also wanted for questioning in a double homicide, and informants had described the suspect as a hardcore drug dealer and a ruthless killer. The suspect reportedly had prior military training, and he was known to carry a number of weapons at all times, including several pistols, a shotgun and an assault rifle. Deputies learned the location of a possible residence for the suspect, and they took up strategic positions near that location.

Soon, the suspect was seen leaving his residence in a silver Camaro. Several marked units approached the suspect vehicle and activated their emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect U-turned suddenly and accelerated, attempting to elude the Deputies. When the suspect reached his residence, he began to exit the vehicle armed with an assault rifle. Sergeant Rodney Tooley, in the lead patrol vehicle, drove straight towards the suspect, forcing him back inside the suspect vehicle. Sergeant Tooley’s vehicle struck the driver’s door of the suspect vehicle, cutting off the suspect’s exit and denying the suspect an opportunity to fire on the approaching Deputies. The suspect then exited his vehicle on the passenger side carrying only a handgun. The suspect attempted to flee on foot, but he was quickly apprehended. Thankfully, no Deputies were injured during this potentially deadly encounter. After the suspect was taken into custody, several weapons were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle, including a 12 gauge shotgun and an SKS assault rifle.

During this incident, Sergeant Tooley acted quickly, decisively, and courageously, placing himself in harm’s way to protect other Deputies from being fired upon with a high-powered weapon. By taking immediate action, Sergeant Tooley thwarted a potentially deadly attack that would have endangered the lives of responding Deputies, as well as everyone living in the immediate area. His actions demonstrated an unwavering resolve to protect his Deputies, and I commend him for his decisiveness, his bravery, and his dedication.

Tommy Thomas, Sheriff
Harris County