Harris County Sheriff’s Sergeant Indicted on Murder Charge in 2022 Shooting

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Garrett Hardin was indicted on Thursday by a Harris County grand jury for a first-degree felony charge of murder. This indictment is a result of the fatal shooting of Roderick Brooks that occurred in July 2022.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office follows a policy of presenting all cases involving officer-involved shootings to a grand jury in order to determine if there is probable cause to support criminal charges. Grand juries in Harris County consist of 12 randomly selected county residents who carefully consider all available evidence, including the testimony of witnesses.

To proceed with an indictment, a minimum of nine grand jurors must agree that probable cause exists, leading to the issuance of a “true bill.” This process ensures that such cases undergo thorough community review at the grand jury level and, if necessary, proceed to trial.

Now that Sgt. Hardin has been indicted, the charges against him will follow the standard criminal court process like any other case. If convicted, he could face a sentence ranging from 5 years to 99 years or even life in prison.