Janice R. Andrews
Texas City, Missouri – The Missouri City Police Department has been unable to provide an explanation for why the implicated officer had a guy in the back seat of his car at the time of the incident, nearly five days after a sad accident that claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage son.
Memorable Crumble
A police officer responding to a suspected robbery struck Angela Stewart, 52, and her 16-year-old son Mason Stewart, 16, as they were exiting a parking lot on Thursday at around 8:45 p.m. The victims were recognized by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Stewarts were killed at the scene when their automobile was struck by the officer’s vehicle. Mason Stewart was operating a vehicle when the crash occurred.
After being hospitalized, the cop who was involved in the collision was later released. But when a guy was discovered in the patrol car’s rear seat many hours after the collision, a mystery began to take shape.
Unresolved Queries
There are several unanswered issues regarding the man’s presence in the officer’s car. The man’s name is still unknown, but Missouri City Police detective and public information officer Derrick Spencer verified the man’s condition was severe enough to need surgery. The man was still in the hospital as of Tuesday.
“We are currently investigating why the officer was responding to a robbery call with a passenger and why he had a man in his back seat,” Detective Spencer said. These are the main areas being looked into.
In his Friday media presentation, Chief Brandon Harris emphasized that it is against department policy for officers to respond to emergency calls while carrying a passenger. He was unable to verify if the individual was being held at the time of the collision.
“We’re still looking into the circumstances surrounding why he was in the car and how he got in,” Harris stated.
Details of the Robbery
Police claim that an ATM heist close to the crash scene was the starting point of the chain of events. A victim said that about 8:42 p.m., an armed guy approached them and demanded money. The victim followed the perpetrator, who was said to be driving away in a silver Honda with $200, as they spoke with 911 operators.
This collision included an officer responding to a report of robbery. It’s still unknown if he turned on the lights or sirens of his car prior to the collision. Chief Harris stated that these information are being determined by reviewing footage from dash and body cameras.
Inside Look
The officer is presently on administrative leave as the police department conducts an internal inquiry into its standards and procedures, Detective Michael Medina revealed. The actions and choices made by the officer before to the collision will be closely examined in this inquiry.
A Heartbroken Family
Mason’s father, Angela Stewart’s husband, Rodney Stewart, described the terrifying moment he learned of his family’s destiny. Using his son’s smartphone, he found his wife and son when they did not come home from the supermarket. He told the authorities that his family was engaged in the collision when he arrived at the crash scene. An officer then informed him that his son and wife had passed away.
Rodney Stewart told reporters, “They just prevented me from going to the scene and one of the officers told me that they were gone.”
A woman who was with Rodney at the site described her heartbreak, relating how she struggled to finish her doctoral capstone thesis while grieving the loss of her mother.
Reactions from the Public and Government
Despite repeated requests, the Texas Department of Public Safety—which is in charge of the crash investigation—has not offered any further details.
The Missouri City community is still in shock over the occurrence, and many people are calling for responsibility and answers. Although the officer’s name is unknown, it is known that he has worked as a police officer for three years, spending less than a year of that time with the Missouri City Police Department.
Ongoing Examine
The purpose of the officer’s response to an emergency call with a passenger and whether or not protocol was followed are the main topics of the ongoing crash inquiry. The findings of this inquiry may have a big impact on the procedures and policies of the Missouri City Police Department.
The Missouri City community is in mourning for Angela and Mason Stewart, and many are waiting for answers on what happened before the sad incident. The investigation is still ongoing. Whilst the Stewart family is dealing with an unfathomable loss, the emphasis is still on making sure that responsibility is taken and avoiding such events in the future.
