Many citizens did not consider the losses that would be incurred by the courthouses in the community. The Courthouse Annex on Cypresswood in northwest Harris County flooded in Harvey’s torrential rains, leaving 3 to 4 feet of water and destroying much of what was inside. That water also flooded the property room, which contained 15,000 pieces of evidence and all of which, Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman. Of that collection, he said some evidence is now missing or was damaged.
Four open cases were affected, evidence missing or destroyed in eleven cases. Four cases, including aggravated assault, aggravated assault against a family member, attempt to forge a check and marijuana possession have open charges. “In a lot of cases, it can help. If that evidence is destroyed and they don’t have that evidence, they can’t make their case,” said Tucker Graves, the President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyer’s Association. The devastation of Hurricane Harvey affect not just residential and commercial properties but also government buildings.
