Harris County Grand Jury no-bills Councilman Johnson

Councilman Jarvis Johnson

By BOBBY HORN JR.
A Harris County Grand Jury has chosen not to indict a Houston city councilman on a charge of evading arrest.
Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, who denied fleeing police when he was arrested on June 30, received word Oct. 11 that a Harris County grand jury declined to indict him.
“I have maintained my innocence through this entire ordeal,” Johnson said. “We’re excited and certainly very appreciative of the grand jury coming back with a no-bill charge.”
On June 30, around 9:45 p.m. 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 Johnson five or six blocks before the councilman pulled into a private driveway and stopped at 2606 Staples.
Johnson, in a statement, denied that he was trying to flee the office.
“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 25 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 in a 45 mile per hour zone.
Johnson was arrested. He later posted $2,000 bail and was released. He was not issued a citation for speeding.
Johnson’s attorney, Loretta Johnson Muldrow, said that the question was how soon did Johnson pulls over once he noticed the police car. In evidence presented to the Grand Jury, Muldrow showed that the time period was less than one minute.
In a statement issued shortly after the arrest, Johnson questioned whether the arrest was related to formal complaints the councilman had made about the number of “speed traps” in his district.
He has since urged Houston Police to stop setting up “speed traps” and concentrate their efforts in neighborhood patrols.
There have also been accusations of racial profiling made by members of the community.
Johnson has served the northeast side of Houston, including parts of Aldine and North Forest ISD since 2006.