Denies charges, including speeding
HOUSTON — City Councilman Jarvis Johnson is scheduled to appear in court this week to face a charge of felony evading arrest following an incident that occurred on June 30.
On June 30, around 9:45 p.m., a Houston police officer attempted to stop an alleged speeding vehicle in the 2300 block of the Eastex Freeway service road.
HPD spokesman John Cannon said Officer Steven Running turned on his emergency lights and siren and followed the vehicle five or six blocks before it pulled into a private driveway and stopped at 2606 Staples.
When Running approached the 2003 Toyota Sequoia, he learned that Johnson was driving.
Johnson, in a statement, denied that he was trying to flee the officer. At a later news conference on Friday, he denied fleeing or leaving his car. He identified the woman in the car with him as his secretary.
“Last night (June 30) was an unfortunate situation where the officer erroneously surmised that I was speeding and fled his warning — a claim I vehemently deny. At no point did I drive over 45 mph, run stop signs, or maneuver around any vehicle. I acted in no way that would give any indication that I was attempting to flee or evade apprehension.”
Johnson was reportedly driving 62 mph in a 45 mile per hour zone. Johnson was arrested. he later posted $2,000 bail and was released.
Donna Hawkins, with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said that Johnson is scheduled to make his first court appearance, in the 209th Criminal Court on July 6.
In his statement Johnson questioned whether the arrest was related to formal complaints the councilman had made about the number of “speed traps” in his district.
There have also been accusations of racial profiling made by members of the community.