Thin Blue Line: Officer Store

Saturday 15 December 2012

Officer Store

Police have arrested two men accused of robbing an adult novelty store and shooting an off-duty police officer.The victim is Houston Police Officer Jessica Smith. Smith has been with HPD for less than a year and was not armed when she was shot.She opted not to carry her firearm since the HPD policy gives off-duty officers the choice."She knew she had her police ID," Capt. David Gott said. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday inside a Zone D'Erotica off Willowchase at Tomball Parkway.Gott said two robbers walked in and threatened the store clerk and another employee behind the counter.Though they cooperated, one of the robbers shot the clerk in the leg while the other robber

ransacked the place and its merchandise."They were told there were females in the store and it appears as though they were looking for the females and at that point she (Smith) got up and she ran out the door," Gott said. Smith hid in her car and called police before the gunman shot her in the shoulder. Detectives said she's expected to make a full recovery.The two men in custody have not been named because they have yet to be formally charged. Investigators said they are confident they have the men responsible given the evidence, handgun and merchandise found at their apartment.