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Man Convicted of Capital Murder in Killing of Sikh Sheriff’s Deputy in Texas Man Convicted of Capital Murder in Killing of Sikh Sheriff’s Deputy in Texas
(about 2 hours later)
Three years after an observant Sikh and sheriff’s deputy in Texas who had garnered national attention was fatally shot during a traffic stop, a jury on Monday convicted a 50-year-old man of capital murder.Three years after an observant Sikh and sheriff’s deputy in Texas who had garnered national attention was fatally shot during a traffic stop, a jury on Monday convicted a 50-year-old man of capital murder.
The jury, in Harris County Criminal Court in Houston, deliberated less than 30 minutes before finding the man, Robert Solis, guilty in the Sept. 27, 2019, fatal shooting of Sandeep Dhaliwal, a 10-year-veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office who had drawn widespread notice when he gained permission to wear a turban as part of his uniform.The jury, in Harris County Criminal Court in Houston, deliberated less than 30 minutes before finding the man, Robert Solis, guilty in the Sept. 27, 2019, fatal shooting of Sandeep Dhaliwal, a 10-year-veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office who had drawn widespread notice when he gained permission to wear a turban as part of his uniform.
Prosecutors said that Mr. Solis, who had an active parole violation warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon from 2017, was motivated to kill the deputy because he did not want to go back to jail.Prosecutors said that Mr. Solis, who had an active parole violation warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon from 2017, was motivated to kill the deputy because he did not want to go back to jail.
The quick verdict ended a bizarre weeklong trial in which the defendant chose to represent himself in court even though prosecutors are seeking a death sentence.The quick verdict ended a bizarre weeklong trial in which the defendant chose to represent himself in court even though prosecutors are seeking a death sentence.
As Judge Chris Morton read the verdict, Mr. Solis nodded his head slightly and showed little emotion.As Judge Chris Morton read the verdict, Mr. Solis nodded his head slightly and showed little emotion.
The jury that convicted Mr. Solis began hearing evidence on Monday afternoon in the punishment phase of the trial, The Associated Press reported.The jury that convicted Mr. Solis began hearing evidence on Monday afternoon in the punishment phase of the trial, The Associated Press reported.
After firing his court-appointed lawyers before his trial began last week, Mr. Solis argued in court that he had accidentally discharged the weapon.After firing his court-appointed lawyers before his trial began last week, Mr. Solis argued in court that he had accidentally discharged the weapon.
The death of Deputy Dhaliwal, 42, a father of three children, stunned the community in Houston, where he had been known as a trailblazing deputy for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office who wore his traditional articles of faith, including a turban and a beard, while on patrol. Observant Sikhs wear turbans, covering their uncut hair, which they call kesh, as part of their faith.The death of Deputy Dhaliwal, 42, a father of three children, stunned the community in Houston, where he had been known as a trailblazing deputy for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office who wore his traditional articles of faith, including a turban and a beard, while on patrol. Observant Sikhs wear turbans, covering their uncut hair, which they call kesh, as part of their faith.
On Sept. 27, 2019, Deputy Dhaliwal made a routine traffic stop and spoke to the driver, Mr. Solis, for about two minutes with no hint of combativeness or argument during the encounter.On Sept. 27, 2019, Deputy Dhaliwal made a routine traffic stop and spoke to the driver, Mr. Solis, for about two minutes with no hint of combativeness or argument during the encounter.
Then, as Deputy Dhaliwal made his way back to his patrol vehicle, Mr. Solis opened his door, ran up to the deputy and shot him in the back of the head, according to the authorities.Then, as Deputy Dhaliwal made his way back to his patrol vehicle, Mr. Solis opened his door, ran up to the deputy and shot him in the back of the head, according to the authorities.
During the trial, Mr. Solis admitted that he had shot and killed Mr. Dhaliwal, but he insisted that it had been accident. He said in court that after giving Mr. Dhaliwal false information during the traffic stop, including a fake name, he believed that the deputy would wrongly imprison him, which motivated Mr. Solis to try to make a citizen’s arrest of Deputy Dhaliwal, The Houston Chronicle reported. During the trial, Mr. Solis admitted that he had shot and killed Mr. Dhaliwal, but he insisted that it had been an accident. He said in court that after giving Mr. Dhaliwal false information during the traffic stop, including a fake name, he believed that the deputy would wrongly imprison him, which motivated Mr. Solis to try to make a citizen’s arrest of Deputy Dhaliwal, The Houston Chronicle reported.
Footage from a body camera worn by Deputy Dhaliwal showed when Mr. Solis rushed toward him with a gun and ordered the deputy to put his hands up, the newspaper reported.Footage from a body camera worn by Deputy Dhaliwal showed when Mr. Solis rushed toward him with a gun and ordered the deputy to put his hands up, the newspaper reported.
“I accidentally pulled the trigger and it discharged,” Mr. Solis said in court.“I accidentally pulled the trigger and it discharged,” Mr. Solis said in court.
In his opening statement, which lasted about 50 seconds and was carried by the television station Click2Houston.com, Mr. Solis leaned into the microphone and said to the jury, “I stand before you an innocent man until you all go back there and deliberate and determine whether or not the state has met its burden, and whether I intentionally and knowingly, a conscious objective, shot this deputy.”In his opening statement, which lasted about 50 seconds and was carried by the television station Click2Houston.com, Mr. Solis leaned into the microphone and said to the jury, “I stand before you an innocent man until you all go back there and deliberate and determine whether or not the state has met its burden, and whether I intentionally and knowingly, a conscious objective, shot this deputy.”
A woman who was in the car with Mr. Solis during the encounter, Jennifer Saez, testified that Mr. Solis had said, “I am not going back to jail,” while sitting in the car during the traffic stop.A woman who was in the car with Mr. Solis during the encounter, Jennifer Saez, testified that Mr. Solis had said, “I am not going back to jail,” while sitting in the car during the traffic stop.
Larry Covey, an acquaintance of Mr. Solis, testified that Mr. Solis had called him moments after the shooting to ask for a ride.Larry Covey, an acquaintance of Mr. Solis, testified that Mr. Solis had called him moments after the shooting to ask for a ride.
“I told him he was a dead man,” Mr. Covey said.“I told him he was a dead man,” Mr. Covey said.
Deputy Dhaliwal’s law enforcement work had been a source of pride for his Sikh community. He had organized a tractor-trailer of supplies to be delivered from California after Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, and had traveled to Puerto Rico to help a colleague with hurricane relief efforts there.Deputy Dhaliwal’s law enforcement work had been a source of pride for his Sikh community. He had organized a tractor-trailer of supplies to be delivered from California after Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, and had traveled to Puerto Rico to help a colleague with hurricane relief efforts there.
When the sheriff’s office changed its policy to allow Deputy Dhaliwal to wear a turban and grow out his beard, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund praised the move.When the sheriff’s office changed its policy to allow Deputy Dhaliwal to wear a turban and grow out his beard, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund praised the move.
The sheriff’s office had proudly announced their new directive in 2015, hosting a news conference that included remarks from Deputy Dhaliwal. The sheriff’s office had proudly announced the new directive in 2015, hosting a news conference that included remarks from Deputy Dhaliwal.
“As a Sikh American,” he said, “I felt the need of representation from Sikh communities in the law enforcement in Harris County Sheriff’s Office.”“As a Sikh American,” he said, “I felt the need of representation from Sikh communities in the law enforcement in Harris County Sheriff’s Office.”