HOUSTON – Attorney Brent Mayr secured a not guilty verdict for a Houston police officer accused of killing a 71-year-old man while responding to a call.

The directed verdict was issued during the trial’s second day, when District Judge Chuck Silverman acquitted Officer Matthew Valdez without the case going to a jury.

In cases involving directed verdicts, a judge determines that there is not enough evidence to move forward with trial.

In November 2020, Valdez was charged with criminally negligent homicide when his cruiser struck Walter Cooper’s car at a speed of about 90 miles per hour, with his sirens and lights not activated. While Mayr recognized the tragedy of the situation, he established that department policy about employment of the lights and sirens were not clear. On top of that, Cooper had a blood-alcohol level that was three times the legal limit. Officers are allowed to speed when responding to a call.

More coverage of the case and verdict can be found here:

https://abc13.com/houston-police-officer-crash-trial-former-hpd-matthew-valdez-acquitted-not-guilty-of-fatal-directed-veridct/12112968/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ex-Houston-police-officer-acquitted-of-fatal-2020-17362741.php
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/former-houston-pd-officer-acquitted-deadly-2020-crash
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/08/09/former-hpd-officer-on-trial-for-deadly-2020-crash/

Brent Mayr is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and represents individuals under investigation for and charged with criminal offenses in both state and federal court.