Jan 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 1

AROUND THE COUNTRY
HOUSTON, TX.
Houston Police Sergeant M. Valle fatally shot a suspected burglar after
being severely wounded by multiple gunshots at point-blank range.
HOUSTON, TX. - A Houston
police sergeant was shot multiple
times in an “ambush-style
attack” early Saturday morning,
and the suspect is dead, the police
chief says.
Chief Troy Finner says Sergeant
M. Valle, a 17-year veteran
of the department, was taken to
the hospital and is expected to
survive his injuries.
The incident began shortly
after 1 a.m. in the 7000 block of
Harwin. That’s where, the chief
says, the sergeant and two other
officers on the Crime Suppression
Team spotted a man suspected
in multiple burglaries and
an aggravated assault who was
driving a silver car.
Chief Finner says the suspect
then drove to the 5800 block of
Parkersburg, where he and a
female got out of the car and
started casing businesses.
The sergeant drove up to the
7000 block of Harwin looking
for the suspect. At some point,
Chief Finner says, there was an
“ambush-style attack” and the
suspect fired multiple shots into
the sergeant’s passenger side
window.
The sergeant managed to get
out his car and return fire, striking
the suspect, the chief says.
HPD says the suspect ran from
the scene and was found a short
time later around the corner of
a building. Police administered
first aid, but he was pronounced
dead at the scene.
The sergeant was shot multiple
times in the arms and legs, and
Chief Finner says the sergeant’s
ballistic vest took a bullet. Other
officers applied tourniquets to
the sergeant’s injuries, and he
was then taken to the hospital.
Per policy, the police department
will conduct a criminal
and administrative investigation,
and the Harris County District Attorney’s
Office will also investigate.
42 The Blues - January ‘24