HOUSTON, Texas – After the sentencing of former Houston Police Department officer Gerald Goines, Ryan Tuttle, the son of Nicholas Tuttle, publicly demanded an apology from former HPD Chief Art Acevedo.
Tuttle criticized Acevedo for previously labeling his father, Dennis Tuttle, and Rhogena Nicholas as drug dealers, a claim that has since been challenged in light of Goines’ conviction.
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During the sentencing, Ryan expressed hope that Goines’ punishment would serve as a warning for public servants who misuse their authority.
He urged Acevedo to issue a swift public apology and retract his derogatory statements against his father and Nicholas.
“Our family never wavered in our trust in God’s plan to bring justice and closure to the Tuttle and Nicholas families. We ask for continued guidance as our focus is to restore Dennis’ and Reggie’s reputations by first asking Governor Abbott, former Police Chief Acevado, and Officer Gamaldi to make a public apology to the Tuttle and Nicholas families and, secondly, to publicly retract their unfounded and derogatory comments shortly after the murder of our relatives,” The Tuttle and Nicholas families said in a statement sent to KPRC 2 Investigates.
Shortly after the deadly rain on Jan. 28, 2019, Art Acevedo claimed that Tuttle and Nicholas were violent drug dealers.
“Narcotics activity was going on at that residence, specifically the sale of black tar heroin,” said the former HPD Chief back in 2019.
A few weeks after the raid, police investigators admitted the raid was built on lies.
KPRC 2 Investigates first uncovered HPD’s internal investigation detailing the lengths that Goines went to secure the bogus no-knock warrant.
Since then, Acevedo has been under scrutiny for how he handled the raid’s aftermath.
During the trial, it was revealed that he ordered officers to turn off their body-worn video cameras during an active investigation.
HPD Officer Valeriano Rios testified that Acevedo instructed him to turn it off.
At the time of Acevedo’s order, officers were across the street from 7815 Harding Street. The scene was chaotic and unfolding with four officers being treated nearby for gunshot wounds. HPD SWAT officers were still arriving to the scene as well. The raid had occurred nearly 45 minutes earlier.
KPRC 2 Investigates did ask Acevedo to comment on the showing him ordering an officer to shut off his body camera, but he refused and instead went on Twitter to defend his actions.
Hey @KPRC, we know that @KPRC2Mario often engages in sensationalism and lacks journalistic integrity. However, we notice that this behavior continues unchecked. Let me share the @houstonpolice policy below—although it may not fit the narrative often presented by the king of bias… https://t.co/HhFnqU51OR pic.twitter.com/t8jWsEmhld
— Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) September 12, 2024
Officer Steven Bryant also testified during Goines’ trial that he heard Acevedo give the order to turn off the cameras and saw officers comply. He said he believed the cameras should have remained on to capture evidence of the raid’s aftermath.
“When this first came out, we heard from a lot of public figures that were accusing my father, Dennis and Reggie Nicholas of being drug dealers, and they’re not. We would expect a public apology, exonerating them for their quick, uneducated verdicts on innocent civilians and good people,” Ryan said.
Acevedo has not yet to comment on the verdict and sentencing of Goines.