Judge extends mental hospital stay for Houston man who ran over officers

Hung Dasian Truong, shown here in 2008, will remain in the custody of the Rusk State Hospital where he has been since 2010. Hung Dasian Truong, shown here in 2008, will remain in the custody of the Rusk State Hospital where he has been since 2010. Photo: Julio Cortez, Chronicle Photo: Julio Cortez, Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Judge extends mental hospital stay for Houston man who ran over officers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A state district judge has denied the release of a Houston man who said voices urged him to run into two police officers, killing one, more than a decade ago.

Prosecutors on Tuesday won their most recent attempt to keep Hung Truong in the custody of Rusk State Hospital in east Texas, where he has stayed since 2010. Police said Truong, now 35, crashed into Houston police officers Gary Gryder and Fred Pyland as they worked on a construction road block along the Katy Freeway.

Gryder died in the 2008 wreck, and Pyland broke his leg. Truong pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the manslaughter charge.

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Prosecutors argued to keep Truong at the hospital because he presented a continued risk to the public, they said.

“It is important to the victim’s family, and all of us, that the public remains safe from this violent offender, who has been found to be insane, when an appropriate facility is not available for him here in Houston,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said on Tuesday.

Judge Mark Kent Ellis decided to keep Truong at the hospital for up to another year, according to court records. The cases are typically re-evaluated annually.

“We applaud the judge’s decision,” Assistant District Attorney Bradford Crockard said. “We believe it is in the best interest of public safety that this man be kept off the streets and in a place where he can get proper treatment.”

The Houston Chronicle has requested comment from Truong’s attorney.

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