Accused Murderer of Police Officer Appears In Court Wearing His Victim's Handcuffs

A man who has been accused of running over a police officer, then leaving the scene and concealing the car used in the crime, attended his December 12 court appearance wearing the handcuffs of the sergeant he allegedly killed.

"#Update — Tuesday night when Sgt. Sullivan lost her life, Henderson fled the scene with one handcuff on his wrist. I bet he didn't know Sgt. Sullivan had another set waiting on him...he's currently at the @HCSOTexas jail & wearing HER handcuffs while on his way to court tonight!" tweeted Harris County Sheriff's Office Maj. Mike Lee.

Henderson allegedly struck Sullivan with his vehicle while she was still partially inside of it Tuesday night during a traffic stop. Another officer had pulled over Henderson for speeding in the parking lot of an apartment complex. When he realized Henderson was found to have had an outstanding warrant for a domestic violence charge, he called for backup and Sullivan responded to the scene. During the resulting arrest he evaded the officers and struck and killed Sullivan.

Police say Henderson then ditched the car and was picked up by his mother and her boyfriend. They delivered him to a hotel, where he stayed for at least one night in an alleged effort at avoiding arrest.

Henderson's mother, Tiffany, who according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in a press conference may face charges of hindering apprehension along with her boyfriend Geoffrey Wheeler, allegedly lied to authorities when asked about Henderson's whereabouts—in fact, according to Gonzalez, she said that she didn't know him at all. Surveillance footage exists of the hit and run.

"It showed less than 30 minutes before she made that statement to police that she had dropped him off at the hotel. So she absolutely knew where he was. She helped him escape as did her boyfriend. They both lied to the police afterward. That's the definition of the hindering charge," Harris County Assistant District Attorney Sean Teare told KHOU.

"We still have a long timeline from [the time of Sullivan's death] to the time we arrested [Henderson] today. Anyone that helped him during that time is going to face the same charge."

Henderson was later found in a Houston area home with two other individuals, who may, Gonzalez said, be charged in connection to the crime. He was found via an anonymous Crimestoppers tip—there was a combined $20,000 reward posted for his capture. When he realized that the house was surrounded, he surrendered and confessed to the hit and run.

"That's my child. I know my child. My child is not a murderer," Tiffany Henderson told KTRK.

Henderson was charged with capital murder during his court appearance Thursday. He was given a $150,000 bond.