HOUSTON—Chad Holley left jail with Quanell X by his side Thursday afternoon, the day after he was arrested in connection with a burglary at a northwest Harris County home. Holley gained national attention when a video surfaced showing HPD officers beating and kicking him after the teen committed another burglary in 2010.
That video – which some compared to the Rodney King police beating—sparked outrage across the nation, and community activist Quanell X led the charge in demanding justice for Holley and calling for action against the police officers involved.
Four officers were fired and charged in connection with the beating.
An all-white jury found Andrew Blomberg not guilty last month. Three officers are still awaiting trial.
Holley was convicted and sentenced to probation for the 2010 burglary.
He said he was turning over a new leaf after he graduated from high school in May. The teen admitted that he had made some mistakes, including his appearance in another video that surfaced showing him flashing what appeared to be a gang sign and his choice in friends.
Holley was with his friends Wednesday when he broke into a home in the 12900 block of Forest Trails in broad daylight, according to Harris County Sheriff’s deputies. A neighbor said the four suspects parked at a dead-end street, ran through his backyard and into another resident’s yard, kicked open a door and started stealing property.
The neighbor, who was armed with a shotgun, called 911.
Deputies said they caught Holley and his friends a few blocks away with the stolen items in their possession.
Holley’s latest arrest caused the person who fought for him the most – Quanell X—to express regret.
“This young man does not understand the magnitude of the sacrifices that people made to help him. I am angry as hell because we put our freedom on the line, we put our life on the line, we put our resources on the line. People have dug into their pockets to help this man,” the activist said. “I am so angry, I could take off my own damn belt and spank his ass.”
After standing alongside his friends Thursday morning, Holley walked free after posting a $10,000 bond. Both the teen and the activist were silent as they walked alongside cameras and reporters, with Quanell pausing briefly to help up a cameraman who tripped and fell.
The other suspects —Donald Wesley Toran,19; Paulus Ramone Jackson, 18; and Alexander O’Neal Babbs, 20 — had not bonded out as of Thursday afternoon.
Visit KHOU.com to read more stories on Chad Holley and see RAW video of arrests and release.
