By Brian Rogers
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON, Texas — Keeping their vow made after a man condemned in the 2003 killing of a Houston policeman was set free last week, a police union is planning to offer a reward for information in the officer’s death.
The Houston Police Officers Union has scheduled to announce the reward at a news conference on Thursday.
“The men and women of HPD are committed to continuing the investigation until the killer of Charlie Clark is behind bars and on death row,” Houston police union President Ray Hunt said in a news release. “We regret that his wife has to relive the tragedy.”
Alfred Dewayne Brown was convicted of capital murder in the fatal shooting of the officer and was sent to death row. His conviction and death sentence were reversed in November, more than two years after an investigator cleaning out his garage found a box of documents that included a phone record that Brown’s trial lawyer could have used to shore up his alibi.
Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson dismissed charges against Brown on June 8, saying she did not have enough evidence to go to trial.
Prosecutors and investigators have agreed that the record should have been turned over to the defense, but said it does not clear Brown.
Brown’s attorneys have said Anderson made the right decision.
“We talked to all the witnesses, several times, and they don’t have the evidence to proceed against him,” said attorney Brian Stolarz.
Hunt and other union officials have maintained that they believe Brown was one of three men involved in a April 3, 2003 robbery at a check-cashing business that led to the deaths of Clark and a store clerk, Alfredia Jones.
A day later, Brown, then 21, Elijah Dwayne Joubert and Dashan Vadell Glaspie were arrested in the case.
Joubert was also sent to death row where he remains. Glaspie, who testified against the two other men in exchange for a 30-year sentence, is also behind bars.
Hunt said the reward amount has not been finalized and will have to be approved by the union board Thursday. He has said he hopes to top the original Crimestoppers of Houston reward, which was $10,000.
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