Harris County Sheriff's Office Dirty Deed Under Scrutiny

Why were these innocent men put under surveillance? Well, some lawmakers are asking that question:

State Sen. Rodney Ellis and other lawmakers today said they have asked the Texas attorney general to investigate the Harris County Sheriff's Office's surveillance of two brothers who successfully sued the county and the Sheriff's Office.

Ellis, D-Houston, said the recent disclosure that sheriff's deputies were assigned to watch Erik and Sean Ibarra amounts to Gestapo tactics.

The Ibarra brothers filed a federal lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office and Harris County in 2004, alleging their civil rights were violated when deputies stormed their home, seized their film and arrested them after one of the brothers photographed a drug raid at a neighbor's home.

Although they were not charged with a crime, could it be that the sheriff's office was trying to frame them for a crime?

Harris County Gearing Up For Executions

Feeling they have the green light to proceed, Harris County prosecutors pledged Wednesday to move forward in seeking execution dates for six local killers.

Among Harris County killers likely headed to the death house are Charles Douglas Raby, 38, who in October 1992 repeatedly stabbed 72-year-old Edna Mae Franklin, then cut her throat, after his rape attempt failed. Also facing execution is Jose Ernesto Medillin, 33, who in June 1993 kidnapped, raped and strangled Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 15, when they stumbled into a gang initiation rite at T.C. Jester Park.

After hearing the news, Gov. Rick Perry gave a hallelujah shout out to Texas' brand of justice.

DA Fights Autopsy Release

Harris County prosecutors are trying to block the release of Diego Ortiz' autopsy.

Ortiz and Hernando Torres were shot and killed, after Joe Horn says he saw them break into a neighbor's house.

Pasadena police have said both men were shot in the back. Their autopsies were sent to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

But county officials don't want it made public, saying it's part of a pending criminal investigation. So far, no charges have been filed against Mr. Horn.

Deputy Constable Indicted And Fired After Child Sexual Assault

A Precinct 4 deputy constable has been fired after a Harris County grand jury indicted him on a sexual assault charge, authorities said.

Michael Serges, 38, was indicted on March 5 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. After the indictment, Serges was immediately terminated from the Precinct 4 Constable's Office, said Assistant Chief Deputy Larry Shiflet.

Justice Department Investigates Harris County Jail

The Harris County Jail is under investigation by the Department of Justice civil rights division. In a letter sent to Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Friday, the department said the probe would determine whether the jail is operating under unlawful conditions.

If the Justice investigation finds violations, federal officials will suggest ways to improve jail conditions. If those recommendations are not met, federal law allows the attorney general to sue the county.

Brothers' Suit against Harris County To Proceed

A federal jury is being summoned back to court this morning to hear opening statements in a civil lawsuit filed by two brothers who claim that Harris County sheriff's deputies stormed their home without probable cause and wrongfully arrested them.

The lawsuit, filed by Sean Carlos Ibarra, 37, and Erik Adam Ibarra, 28, exposed embarrassing but unrelated e-mails sent and received by former Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal, who resigned Friday.

The Ibarras are suing Sheriff Tommy Thomas, four deputies involved in their arrests and Harris County, alleging their civil rights were violated when the deputies arrested them and destroyed film in their camera after one of them photographed an officer at a drug raid taking place at their next-door neighbor's house.