Teen Faces Assault Charges After Resisting Arrest at CVS on Bay Area Blvd, Injuring Deputies

On Thursday evening, at approximately 9:00 PM, Harris County Precinct 8 Deputies responded to the CVS Pharmacy located in the 2400 block of Bay Area Blvd. for a report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, Deputies learned from store employees that a known subject, 18-year-old Najii Ali, had been at this location harassing customers. Ali had previously been issued a Criminal Trespass Warning for this location from previous incidents that occurred on August 22nd and August 23rd.

Deputies located Ali in an adjacent parking lot and attempted to detain him. While attempting to apply handcuffs, Ali resisted, leading to a struggle. After several minutes, with the assistance of two UHCL police officers and an additional Precinct 8 Deputy, Ali was secured. During the struggle, Ali attempted to headbutt one Deputy and spat toward another. After being placed in the patrol car, he continued being combative, aggressively kicking the car doors.

One Deputy sustained a large abrasion and bruising to his right forearm, while another Deputy sustained injuries to his left hand, wrist, and knee. The second Deputy was treated at a local emergency room for possible tissue damage to his left shoulder and a sprained right wrist. He is now recovering at home.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted two charges of Assault on a Public Servant. Ali was booked into the Harris County Joint Processing Center and is currently awaiting arraignment. Bonds have not yet been set.

This incident follows previous encounters Precinct 8 Deputies have had with Ali. On September 8, 2024, Ali was reported running into the street and climbing on vehicles in the 1200 block of Bay Area Blvd. A responding Deputy witnessed the activity, smelled marijuana, and asked Ali if he had anything illegal. Ali handed the Deputy a baggie of what appeared to be marijuana but fled on foot when the Deputy attempted to detain him. He was apprehended after a brief chase and charged with Evading Arrest. Ali was booked into the Harris County Jail but was released on September 9th after the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

In another incident on May 23, 2024, Ali was charged by the Houston Police Department with Evading Arrest or Detention and Interfering with the Duties of a Public Servant. This case stemmed from reports of Ali harassing school-aged children and a crossing guard on Saturn Ln. The charges were also dismissed on July 10, 2024, for insufficient evidence.

This incident marks at least the 10th time Precinct 8 Deputies have responded to incidents involving Ali since 2023. Most cases involved trespassing, theft, harassment, or disturbances where Ali was warned, cited, arrested, or issued criminal trespass warnings.