HOUSTON – A man with an extensive criminal history spanning multiple states was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, who is also a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, records show.
Kenerick Lee was arrested Tuesday morning in the 300 block of North Vista Drive in Houston by the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force on a federal probation warrant.
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Lee was previously convicted of the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a weapon on November 24, 2020.
Details of the arrest
Lee was wanted on a federal warrant issued by the Southern District of Indiana for violating the terms of his supervised release. A loaded firearm was recovered at the scene during the arrest.
In addition to the federal warrant, Lee was also wanted in a Harris County case filed on April 17 for assaulting a family member. In that case, he allegedly assaulted his off-duty HCSO deputy girlfriend and refused to return her uniform, duty weapon, and body armor.
Details of the deputy’s assault
According to charging documents, the off-duty deputy called 911 after Lee punched her while she was driving. She told officials that their relationship was not romantic, but purely sexual. She said she had gone to his home on April 16 after finishing her shift, changed clothes, and left her HCSO-issued uniform, gun belt, firearm, Taser, handheld radio, body armor, and body-worn camera in his apartment.
Records indicate the two later went to a friend’s house together. On the way back to his apartment, they began arguing after Lee noticed a contact saved in her phone under “favorites,” which upset him.
The argument escalated inside her vehicle and eventually turned physical. Lee allegedly struck her at least twice in the eyes, causing a popped blood vessel in the left eye and swelling beneath it.
The deputy also sustained a minor cut inside her upper lip and a small knot on the right side of her forehead. Lee also reportedly pulled off her wig.
Once they arrived back at his apartment, Lee exited the vehicle and the deputy drove away.
Shortly afterward, she realized her uniform and duty equipment were still in his apartment. When she tried to call him to retrieve her items, he reportedly refused to return them.
Lee later left the apartment in a vehicle, but it was unclear if he had any of her belongings. Charging documents state that her equipment was eventually dropped off at the home of one of Lee’s family members.
Suspect’s criminal record
Criminal records show Lee has committed crimes in multiple states—including California, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Texas—for offenses ranging from burglary and possession of a controlled substance to felon in possession of a firearm and deadly conduct.
Joe Ruiz de Chavez, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, released the following statement:
“Kenerick Lee is a career criminal. The arrest of Lee is an outstanding example of federal and local law enforcement agencies working together across state lines to apprehend the most violent and dangerous fugitives.
“Cases like this highlight the value of U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Forces and how our partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies significantly reduces violent crime in Houston and cities across the nation.”