Residents raise records, police conduct and custody death concerns at Pasadena council meeting

Several Pasadena residents used the April 15 public-comment period to press the City Council for records and to raise allegations about police conduct and past in-custody deaths.

Robert Jeter told the council he had obtained a city purchase record for a podium and alleged the city’s community relations director attempted to stall his records requests; he publicly urged the mayor to call an executive session to address alleged conduct by council members and said he had referred a matter to a criminal investigation code (he referenced an identifier in the meeting as "PIU 205-003"). Jeter spoke at length about past disputes and asked the council for accountability.

Steven Alvarez and Eric Sanchez raised separate complaints about record production and about how undercover officers and complaints have been handled. Sanchez specifically referenced legal standards and case law, telling councilors that withheld, potentially exculpatory material could implicate Brady v. Maryland and Article 39.14 of the Michael Morton Act, and he asked the city to fulfill formal public records requests.

Richard Collins described the death of Danny Lynn Stevens on May 2, 1976, while Stevens was in the custody of Pasadena police. Collins said he would file a Texas Public Information Act request to obtain records related to that death, stating there is ‘‘no accountability, no public record explaining what really happened.’’

These speakers made allegations and called for records and investigations, but the transcript does not show the council taking immediate investigatory action during the meeting. Several speakers repeatedly asked staff and council to provide requested documents and to pursue follow-up regarding alleged misconduct.