Pubdate: Thu, 15 Feb 2007
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2007 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Armando Villafranca
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/people/Daniel+Castillo

DAD SEEKS ANSWERS IN KILLING BY WHARTON POLICE

Dad Seeks Answers in Killing by Police

He Says His 17-Year-Old Son Was Awakened by His Sister's Cries Before 
Being Shot

WHARTON -- The father of a 17-year-old killed by a police officer who 
was looking for drugs at his home said the shooting was unprovoked.

Daniel Castillo Sr. said his son, Daniel Jr., was awakened by pleas 
from the teen's sister asking officers not to shoot her in the 
Tuesday morning incident, during which law enforcement agencies were 
executing a narcotics search warrant.

"I just want justice," the elder Castillo said Wednesday from his 
home in Wharton.

Officials from the agencies involved in the shooting or its 
investigation continued to decline comment.

The Wharton police officer who shot the teen is on paid 
administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Don Falks was hired six years ago with no prior experience in law 
enforcement, said Capt. David Coleman of the Wharton Police 
Department. Coleman would not say whether Falks previously had 
discharged his weapon while on duty or had been investigated under 
similar circumstances.

Falks was a member of the Wharton Police Department's emergency 
response team, which was executing a narcotics search warrant with 
members of the Wharton County District Attorney Narcotics Task Force 
and the Wharton County Sheriff's Office Star Team.

The elder Castillo said his son was awakened by the pleas of his 
20-year-old sister, Ashley. When the younger Castillo turned toward 
Falks, he said, the officer shot him in the face.

"My son heard her say, 'Don't shoot.' He got up to see what was going 
on," the elder Castillo said.

The teen's sister was with her 1-year-old when Falks burst into the 
bedroom, the elder Castillo said. The sister declined to comment Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the state director of the League of United Latin American 
Citizens said Wednesday that he will ask the FBI to investigate. Rick 
Dovalina said he spent Wednesday with the family and officials in Wharton.

Becky Ivy, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said she 
could not comment about the investigation. Texas Ranger David Maxwell 
could not be reached for comment.

Daniel Castillo Sr. said no one with the district attorney's office 
or police department has talked to him since the shooting. Castillo 
said his son had no criminal record and was not selling drugs and 
that he fears the shooting will be ignored.
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