A man armed with a large steel pole allegedly attacked two people near Tidwell Road and the Eastex Freeway last Thursday, swinging the pole in the roadway and striking a car before hitting a man trying to reach a nearby bus stop. Officers later arrested him while Cavazos was at a CVS. Houston police identified the suspect as Christopher Sevedra, who now faces two counts of aggravated assault.
Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows Sevedra swinging the pole in the roadway and striking a car occupied by Angela Cavazos, according to ABC13. Cavazos said Sevedra came toward her vehicle carrying the pole and that she was scared, so she reversed and drove away rather than wait for him to reach her car.
Police said Sevedra also attacked Mauro Saldana, who was trying to reach a nearby bus stop when he was struck in the arm. Saldana told the station that Sevedra attacked him without saying a word, leaving him with a scraped and bandaged arm. Witnesses told investigators that Sevedra had been terrorizing people around the CVS near Eastex and Tidwell that day.
Confrontation Continued Even After Arrest
Confrontation Continued Even After Arrest Cavazos said Sevedra kept fighting even after officers managed to arrest him, telling the station he kicked out a window while officers held him at the CVS. The area sits in a dense commercial corridor near the Eastex Freeway, home to strip centers including Tidwell Square and standalone pharmacies, according to a LoopNet listing of the area.
Court records show Sevedra is being evaluated for mental health issues, the same reporting from the station notes. Houston Police Department has North and Northeast Patrol Divisions.
What a Competency Evaluation Means for the Case
Under Chapter 46B of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, criminal proceedings are suspended after a court finds a defendant incompetent. The competency standard asks whether the defendant understands the proceedings and can consult with counsel, according to the Law Office of Nathaniel Pitoniak. If a court finds Sevedra incompetent, his case could sit in limbo for some time before prosecutors can move forward.
Texas law defines a deadly weapon as anything capable, by its use or intended use, of causing death or serious bodily injury. Penal Code § 1.07 sets that standard, which can apply to objects such as pipes and hammers, per the LaHood Norton Goss Law Group. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code § 22.02, carrying a punishment range of two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Houston's institutional response to cases involving severe mental illness has expanded in recent years. The Houston Police Department runs a Mental Health Division with 18 Crisis Intervention Response Teams that pair licensed clinicians from The Harris Center with officers for high-level crisis calls, according to the Houston Police Department.
Sevedra remains charged with two counts of aggravated assault as the case proceeds through the competency evaluation process.
