A former Missouri City police officer, 27-year-old Blademir Viveros, has been indicted for manslaughter in connection with a crash that claimed the lives of a mother and her 16-year-old son in June.
The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the manslaughter charges following a grand jury’s decision.
What happened?
Missouri City Police Department said its dispatch received a 911 call at 8:42 p.m. from a victim about an active robbery at an ATM in the 1600 block of Cartwright Road.
Police said a man approached the victim while armed with a handgun and demanded money. The robbery suspect fled in a silver Honda passenger vehicle after stealing $200 from the victim. The robbery victim was following the suspect while on the phone with dispatch.
According to police, Viveros, who was in a 2021 marked Missouri City Police SUV, was responding to the robbery, traveling east, over the posted speed limit, in the 1600-1700 block of Cartwright Road.
At some point, a 2005 Toyota Corolla passenger car failed to yield the right-of-way out of a Dollar Tree parking lot on Cartwright near FM 2234 when the Viveros’ SUV struck their vehicle, police said.
The investigation has determined that Viveros did not have the emergency lights of his vehicle turned on at the time of the crash.
Investigators said there was a mother and her teenage son inside the Toyota Corolla who tragically died at the scene. The victims killed in the crash have been identified as Angela Stewart, 53, and her son, Mason Stewart, both of Stafford. Police could not confirm who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Viveros was taken to Memorial Hermann Houston in the Medical Center for treatment and later released.
More than two hours into the investigation, Missouri City PD Chief Brandon Harris said they found a man in the back of the officer’s patrol vehicle. He was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and is still receiving medical treatment there at the facility.
It is under investigation as to why he was in the officer’s backseat or if he was in custody.
When the chief was asked if the officer should have been responding to another scene with a person occupied in their backseat, he stated that part of their policy notes that an officer should not be responding while occupying a passenger.
The exact Missouri City Police Department policy on pursuits could not be located online. KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding submitted a formal request for the policy.
However, he dug up some literature on the policy, which says: “... the officer is required to balance the need to apprehend immediately versus the potential danger to citizens via the pursuit. The policy authorizes and encourages officers to terminate a pursuit if it is deemed too dangerous...”
Chief Harris also said it is under investigation if the officer’s lights or sirens were turned on during the time of the crash.
The crash investigation is being conducted by The Texas Department of Public Safety. The Missouri City Police Department will also conduct an internal investigation concerning Policy and Procedures.
Viveros was later relieved of duty, according to the department. The Missouri City Police Department announced this after investigating with the Texas Department of Public Safety on the fatal crash that happened on June 20.
“At this stage of the professional standards investigation, the primary officer involved in the accident has been relieved of duty. The Missouri City Police Department wants to assure the public we are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of the community we serve,” the release stated.
Attorney Jack Nugent, who represents the Stewart family in their civil suit against the city of Missouri City, releases the following statement:
“We are still grieving and heartbroken beyond words by the tragic and senseless loss of our beloved wife, mother, brother, and son. Angela and Mason were taken from us far too soon by the actions of a police officer that shock the conscience.
“Today’s indictment is just the first step towards accountability and should only be the beginning of holding the officer responsible for his wrongdoing. It does not heal the pain we feel every day. We extend our deepest gratitude to those who continue to support us in this hard time. We hope our struggle serves as a constant reminder that life is precious, and that justice is necessary.
“We will continue to honor Angela and Mason’s memory and support any action taken that will help in any way to prevent others from enduring this kind of devastating loss.”
Lawsuit filed by victims’ family:
