LIBERTY COUNTY, TX- On Monday, around 8:15 a.m., Cleveland Police Officers Fleming and Hernandez responded to a suspicious person call in the 1700 block of McKeller Avenue. The reportee said a man, who was a stranger, walked into her backyard and took a picture of her Ring camera. Officers Fleming and Hernandez arrived and found a man and woman standing near the reportee’s home. The couple said they were discussing the brand and type of doorbell they’d seen on the neighbor’s door. They claimed they’d argued about it, and the man decided he’d walk over and take a picture of the doorbell to prove he was right. He admitted being on the reportee’s property uninvited.
The pair was seemingly cooperative, at first. Then Officers asked them for identification, which is standard practice, and checked their IDs through CPD Communications. That’s when things went sideways. The man had an open warrant through the Hempstead Police Department for Assault / Family Violence. When CPD Officers began to detain the wanted man, he became violent, striking Officer Hernandez in the face with his fist several times and grabbing Officer Fleming by her hair.
The Officers struggled to detain the combative suspect, and eventually deployed a TASER device. Not only did the TASER fail to stop him, the suspect fought more and even tried to take Officer Fleming’s TASER. The Officers made several attempts to get the man’s hands behind his back, but being sweaty helped him to slip out of their grasp as they struggled. He finally broke free and ran. The Officers gave chase, but lost sight of the suspect in a wooded area between Mckellar and Ross St.
Allegiance EMS responded to the scene and treated Officers for shortness of breath due to the extreme heat, and medics provided first aid for minor scratches. CPD Detective Shaver later interviewed witnesses and is assisting Officers with obtaining warrants for the suspect who assaulted the Officers. He’s been identified as 21-year-old Courtavion Lamarque Scott of Bedias.
Cleveland Police say Scott is a danger to the community and CPD is working to find him. Anyone with information regarding Courtavion Lamarque Scott’s whereabouts should call the Cleveland Police Department at 281-592-2622 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867 (All callers will remain anonymous.)
