Ex-councilman alleges officer brutality during traffic stop

Former Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, center, appears at a news conference on Thursday with activist Deric Muhammad and Johnson's wife, Charlene. The news conference was held outside the downtown offices of Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen. less Former Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, center, appears at a news conference on Thursday with activist Deric Muhammad and Johnson's wife, Charlene. The news conference was held outside the downtown ... more Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Ex-councilman alleges officer brutality during traffic stop 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Former Houston Councilman Jarvis Johnson says he was slapped, robbed and held at gunpoint during a traffic stop last month by a Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constable and at least one other officer who responded to the scene.

Johnson, his wife, Charlene, and a dozen more supporters convened a news conference on Thursday outside the downtown offices of Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen to explain the police brutality accusation and demand a "thorough and just" investigation.

Johnson, who owns Aunt Bea's Restaurant on Houston's north side, said he was headed to get gas around 10:15 p.m. after closing his business on Sept. 13, when he noticed flashing lights behind him and turned into a Gulf station on North Shepherd.

"The officer approached me with his gun drawn and pointed at my head. He then yelled expletives at me, asking me: 'What was I doing?' He then went on to tell me that if I had turned down my (expletive) music, I would have heard his siren."

Johnson said he told the officer he was listening to his usual talk radio.

The deputy constable asked him to step out of the car and Johnson said he complied. As he turned to put his hands against the car, Johnson alleges that another officer slapped him in the face before he was handcuffed. The former councilman said he asked the arresting officer if the cruiser's dash cam was capturing footage and never received an answer.

"My ID and my money that was in my pocket was taken out of my pocket and placed on the front seat. I was then led away to be put in the back seat of a car," he said.

Johnson was eventually ticketed for speeding, allegedly traveling 50 mph in a 35 zone, and for an expired registration. Upon release, he discovered that $2,500 from the $4,700 he was carrying — cash from the restaurant's sales — was missing. Johnson, 43, left the station after pumping gas into his truck.

Attempts to reach Rosen or a spokesperson on Thursday were unsuccessful. Johnson said he has not received any response to his complaint, which was filed Sept. 15.

Activist Deric Muhammad said supporters are demanding that Rosen place the arresting constable on leave until an investigation is complete and fire the deputy if he is found at fault.

Store surveillance video provided by Muhammad shows the constable exiting his cruiser at 10:17 p.m. and pulling his gun out of the holster as he approached Johnson's black Chevrolet SUV. Much of the interaction at the former councilman's vehicle is out of the gas station camera's view. The footage did capture at least five additional officers, including one who appears to be in plain clothes, and five cruisers from the constable's office and the Houston Police Department, responding to the incident.

Johnson concedes that his registration expired Aug. 31, but said that he was not guilty of anything else.

This isn't Johnson's first encounter with police over speeding allegations. In July 2010, when Johnson was the District B councilman representing northeast neighborhoods, he was accused of fleeing an HPD officer who tried to pull him over for traveling 62 mph in a 45 zone and was charged with felony evading arrest.

Johnson was arrested, booked and jailed temporarily in that incident, but maintained his innocence. Three months later, a grand jury declined to indict him.