Grand Jurors Clear Halliburton Protesters
KPRC-TV
June 22, 2005
Area: Houston
HOUSTON, Texas - Three men who were arrested during a protest at Halliburton's shareholders meeting were cleared by a Harris County grand jury Wednesday, Local 2 reported.
The panel chose not to indict the men on felony charges of assaulting a police officer.
More than 200 people protested outside Halliburton's meeting in downtown Houston on May 18. Fifteen were arrested. The protest group Global Awareness said most charges were for a misdemeanor, disorderly conduct.
"There wasn't even enough evidence to go forward with an indictment, much less enough evidence to have a trial," defense attorney Dan Gerson said.
Gerson represents a high school student who said he was only trying to get out of the officer's way.
"The protesters moved from one spot to another spot and the police didn't like it. So the police charge them on horses and the crowd, based on the videos I've seen, just tried to move out of the way of the horses," Gerson said.
At least three protesters have filed protests with the Houston Police Department alleging brutality.
HPD's police chief said Wednesday that internal affairs is still investigating and he still supports the officers' actions.
"The officers that were assigned there were very highly trained and I have a great deal of confidence in them. But we won't be able to make any final judgments or statements until the review is complete," Chief Harold Hurtt said.
Grand jury proceedings are held in secret, so there were no details provided about why the panel did not indict.
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