Latino Family Attacked by Harris County Police

On Tuesday, October 5 a Hispanic family in Texas was allegedly attacked and harassed by Harris County Police Officers. As Deborah Lux and  her husband Urbano came home from the gym, police officers approached them for questioning concerning whether their son, Sean, 13 years old, had been involved in a fight with another neighborhood teenager earlier that day. After questioning them and their son, Police Officer Espinosa ordered them to go with the police over to a neighbor's house for more questioning. According to Deborah Lux, she and Urbano told the police they did not know anything about a fight between their son and another neighbor. Their son told the police that he knew of the fight but that he was not involved.  Deborah and Urbano told Officer Espinosa that they did not want to go with the police to the neighbor's house but that they were willing to cooperate with any investigation. She said, "My husband told the officer that we weren't going over there but his English is rusty. He was trying to explain to the Officer that we would give him any information he needed but that we don't want any trouble.  My husband was pointing to his own chest stating that we knew our rights and that we haven't done anything wrong here. The officer, without warning grabbed my husband hands and started tugging on his arm trying to twist it behind my husbands back. My husband didn't come near him or threaten him any way physically. The officer got upset because we refused to go over to the neighbors house." While Officer Espinosa held Urbano down in a drainage ditch other officers arrived on the scene. Lux stated, "The first Officer on the scene came running to my husband as he was restrained on the ground and with all of his body weight kneed my husband in his back, twice. Then that same officer punched him in the lower back three times. I was beside myself, I couldn't believe they were doing this to my 5'1" 155lb. husband. I continued to scream out for someone to help us. My 13 year old son is sitting there watching his Dad get beat up for no reason." Even though Lux and her son were more than 20 feet from the Officers, Officer Liard pulled his gun out and pointed it at her and her son. Laird then handcuffed them both. According to Lux, Officer Liard approached, pointed his finger at me and accused me of calling the neighbors and threatening to send my child over to whip her sons butt." She said "he slapped his hand on top of his vehicle and told me that he was going to find a reason to put me in jail. I asked the other officers on the scene if they were going to let him talk to me like that and treat me that way. The only officer that cared to hear what I had to say told me that I wasn't going to jail." The Officers said that they were arresting Urbano for resisting arrest and released Lux and her son. Lux also maintains that although Urbano was injured the police refused to provide medical attention.

• Mrs. Lux needs legal representation but cannot afford an attorney. She and her family live in Highlands, Texas. If you can provide legal representation or can direct her to legal resources please contact her at;  DLux@houston.rr.com