Houston-area authorities are investigating after a Waller County constable’s deputy was found dead inside his vehicle Thursday night in northwest Harris County.
A concerned citizen contacted the Harris County Sheriff’s Office about the deputy, who was found dead in his vehicle in the 12400 block of West Little York Road, according to Assistant Chief Thomas Diaz of the sheriff’s office. He told reporters at the scene that homicide detectives for the sheriff’s office, along with crime scene investigators and the Harris County medical examiner’s office, would be investigating.
“They’ll look for any clues or anything like that that may be pertinent to the investigation,” Diaz said. “That information will be collated and dissected and they’ll try to find anything that would help us solve what happened tonight.”
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said in an email Friday that foul play is not suspected in the death of the deputy, who had red and blue overhead lights flashing atop his personal vehicle when he was found. The vehicle’s engine was not running, the spokesperson said.
Chief Tommy Diaz briefing media for the incident in the 12400 block of W little York. A Waller County Precinct 3 deputy constable was found deceased in his vehicle. Investigators, along with the medical examiner, will determine cause and manner of death. pic.twitter.com/R0GM9JM6cO
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) May 26, 2023
The identity of the deputy, who worked for Waller County Precinct 3 Constable Herschel Smith, had not been released as of Friday.
Smith responded to the scene Thursday night and told reporters it was “hard to say” how the deputy might have died.
"I don't have any idea what happened,” Smith said. “I could suspect, but I don't want to suspect because it’s not always good. But something just doesn't seem right about the whole situation."
