After getting trapped in high water, the officer tried to get out of his car but was unable to

A Houston police officer drowned in his patrol car in Harvey floodwaters, officials confirmed Tuesday.Sgt. Steve Perez, an HPD veteran who has been with the department for more than 30 years, was in his patrol car driving to work downtown Sunday morning when he got trapped in high water on Interstate 45 in north Harris County.Search and rescue crews are currently recovering his body."He was trying different routes and took a wrong turn," one high-ranking official said, asking not to be identified.After getting trapped in high water, the officer tried to get out but was unable to.The officer's death is the 15th fatality in Texas claimed by Hurricane Harvey or the rains it spawned after making landfall, as the storm has pushed the city's first response abilities to their limit and as Houston police officers and fire fighters and other first responders have rescued thousands of Houstonians over the past four days.

A Houston police officer drowned in his patrol car in Harvey floodwaters, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Sgt. Steve Perez, an HPD veteran who has been with the department for more than 30 years, was in his patrol car driving to work downtown Sunday morning when he got trapped in high water on Interstate 45 in north Harris County.

Search and rescue crews are currently recovering his body.

"He was trying different routes and took a wrong turn," one high-ranking official said, asking not to be identified.

After getting trapped in high water, the officer tried to get out but was unable to.

The officer's death is the 15th fatality in Texas claimed by Hurricane Harvey or the rains it spawned after making landfall, as the storm has pushed the city's first response abilities to their limit and as Houston police officers and fire fighters and other first responders have rescued thousands of Houstonians over the past four days.

