TX - Cop speeds through redlight and hits van with 5 children inside, killing 2 - Harris County, Oct 2025

[Clearsky]

Baytown officer charged in crash that killed Harris County deputy’s children

A Harris County grand jury has indicted Baytown Police Officer Michael Hightower for the October crash that killed two children of a Harris County Sheriff's deputy.

www.click2houston.com

A Harris County grand jury has indicted Baytown Police Officer Michael Hightower for the October crash that killed two children of a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy.

 

[Niner]

Case (Cause) Number Style File Date Court Status Type Of Action / Offense
194434501010- 3
Active - CRIMINAL(A) The State of Texas vs. HIGHTOWER, MICHAEL ADAM (SPN: 03317225) (DOB: 08/30/1997) 12/12/2025 183 Defendant: Bond Made(B)
Disposition: AGG ASSAULT W / DEADLY WEAPON (F) eSubpoena
194434601010- 3
Active - CRIMINAL(A) The State of Texas vs.
HIGHTOWER, MICHAEL ADAM (SPN: 03317225) (DOB: 08/30/1997) 12/12/2025 183 Defendant: Bond Made(B)
Disposition: MANSLAUGHTER (F) eSubpoena
194434801010- 3
Active - CRIMINAL(A) The State of Texas vs. HIGHTOWER, MICHAEL ADAM (SPN: 03317225) (DOB: 08/30/1997) 12/12/2025 183 Defendant: Bond Made(B)
Disposition: MANSLAUGHTER (F)

Count 1:
Case (Cause) Summary
Case 194434501010 - 3
File Date 12/12/2025
Case (Cause) Status Active - CRIMINAL
Offense AGG ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON
Last Instrument Filed Felony Indictment
Case Disposition
Case Completion Date N/A
Defendant Status Bond Made
Bond Amount $50,000.00
Next/Last Setting Date 1/12/2026

Date Type Description SNU/CFI
12/16/2025 SERVICE ACTIVITY BY RELEASING DEF ON BOND ON 12/15/25 12/16/25
12/16/2025 RECEIPTED BY CLERK 12/16/25
12/15/2025 BOND APPR CRT 183 TIME 1026 TYPE SURETY 12/15/25
BOND APPR AMT $50000 RCPT #
BONDSMAN BAKER, DON
12/15/2025 C87 ACTIVITY BOND SET STATUS N CFI 183 SNU: 999 12/15/25
12/15/2025 ORDER PTRL SUPERVISION BOND CONDITIO SNU: 999 12/15/25
12/15/2025 OFFENSE AGG ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON LEVEL F2 12/15/25
12/12/2025 CI/IND TIME 1230 AMOUNT REFER TO MAGISTRATE SNU: 999 12/16/25
12/12/2025 ACKNOWLEDGED BY SHERIFF 12/16/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION FID 12/12/25 G230 SNU: 999 12/12/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION ROTATION CRT 183 OFF FREQ BND REFER TO MAGISTRATE 12/12/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION OFFENSE AGG ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEA LEVEL F2 12/12/25
12/12/2025 ORI HARRIS COUNTY D. A. OFFENSE NO: 202553272 12/12/25
12/12/2025 PRECEPT/SERVE IND DATE RETURNED HOW EXECUTED 12/12/25
DATE SERVED 12/12/25

Settings:
Date Court Post Jdgm Docket Type Reason/ Appearance Court Results/ Setting Type Defendant Future Date Comments Attorney Appearance Indicator
1/12/2026 09:00 AM 183 Master Docket
Non-Trial Setting

Data Not Entered To Be Set


Count 2:
Case (Cause) Summary
Case 194434601010 - 3
File Date 12/12/2025
Case (Cause) Status Active - CRIMINAL
Offense MANSLAUGHTER
Last Instrument Filed Felony Indictment
Case Disposition
Case Completion Date N/A
Defendant Status Bond Made
Bond Amount $50,000.00
Next/Last Setting Date 1/12/2026

Activies
Date Type Description SNU/CFI
12/16/2025 SERVICE ACTIVITY BY RELEASING DEF ON BOND ON 12/15/25 12/16/25
12/16/2025 RECEIPTED BY CLERK 12/16/25
12/16/2025 BOND FILED CRT 183 TIME 0343 TYPE SURETY 12/16/25
12/16/2025 BOND MADE AMT $50000 DATE 12/15/25 RCPT# 12/16/25
12/16/2025 BONDSMAN BAKER, DON 12/16/25
12/15/2025 C87 ACTIVITY BOND SET STATUS N CFI 183 SNU: 999 12/15/25
12/15/2025 ORDER PTRL SUPERVISION BOND CONDITIO SNU: 999 12/15/25
12/15/2025 OFFENSE MANSLAUGHTER LEVEL F2 12/15/25
12/12/2025 CI/IND TIME 1230 AMOUNT REFER TO MAGISTRATE SNU: 999 12/16/25
12/12/2025 ACKNOWLEDGED BY SHERIFF 12/16/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION FID 12/12/25 G230 SNU: 999 12/12/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION ROTATION CRT 183 OFF FREQ BND REFER TO MAGISTRATE 12/12/25
12/12/2025 GRAND JURY ACTION OFFENSE MANSLAUGHTER LEVEL F2 12/12/25
12/12/2025 ORI HARRIS COUNTY D. A. OFFENSE NO: 202553272 12/12/25
12/12/2025 PRECEPT/SERVE IND DATE RETURNED HOW EXECUTED 12/12/25
DATE SERVED 12/12/25

Count 3:
Case (Cause) Summary
Case 194434801010 - 3
File Date 12/12/2025
Case (Cause) Status Active - CRIMINAL
Offense MANSLAUGHTER
Last Instrument Filed Felony Indictment
Case Disposition
Case Completion Date N/A
Defendant Status Bond Made
Bond Amount $50,000.00
Next/Last Setting Date 1/12/2026

Activities - same as Count 2

& Settings - the same for all counts.


link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records

 

[Niner]

Monday, January 12th:
*Non-Trial Setting Hearing (@ 9am CT) - TX - Baytown Woman & 5 children hit by speeding police car & 2 of the children died after been flown to a hospital on October 23, 2025 at the intersection of West Baker Road & Country Club Drive at about 7:10pm. *Baytown Police Office Michael Hightower (28) arrested, indicted & charged (12/12/25) with 2 counts of manslaughter & 1 count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bond set at $150K (each charge @ $50K). Bond made on 12/15/25 & released. Harris County
Case info: A Harris County grand jury has indicted Baytown Police Officer Michael Hightower for the October crash that killed two children of a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy. Court records obtained by KPRC 2 News show that Hightower, 28, is facing three felony charges, including two counts of manslaughter & one aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. The latter charge stems from an injury someone received in the crash. According to the indictments, Hightower allegedly operated the vehicle at a high rate of speed and/or failed to activate emergency lights and/or failed to activate emergency sirens and/or failed to operate a vehicle with the appropriate regard to a person’s safety or property and/or any combination of those acts. The crash happened Oct. 23 at the intersection of West Baker Road and Country Club Drive at around 7:10 p.m. Five children were in the car driven by a Baytown woman. Two of the children in the 2023 Honda Odyssey minivan had to be flown to the hospital. Records show Hightower was indicted on Friday & posted a $150,000 total bond on Monday. According to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records, Hightower has been with Baytown PD since Jan. 2024. Officer Hightower turned himself in to the court today, December 15, 2025, and is cooperating fully with the legal process. He remains on medical leave due to his injuries. At this time, all inquiries regarding the charges or criminal proceedings should be directed to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. We will provide additional updates as appropriate & in accordance with the legal process.”
12/12/25 Docket update: Precept/Serve Ind. Date returned. Grand jury indictment of 2 counts of manslaughter & 1 count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 12/15/25 Docket update: Order: pretrial supervision & bond conditions. Bond set at $50K for each charge totaling $150K. Bond made on 12/15/25. Releasing defendant on bond on 12/15/25. Next non-trial setting hearing on 1/12/26 @ 9am.

 

[Niner]

All charges:
Activities:
Date Type Description SNU/CFI
01/12/2026 ORDER MT WITHDRAW ATTORNEY OF RECORD SNU: 998 01/12/26
01/12/2026 OFFENSE MANSLAUGHTER LEVEL F2 01/12/26

Setting:
Date Court Post Jdgm Docket Type Reason/ Appearance Court Results/ Setting Type Defendant Future Date Comments Attorney Appearance Indicator
2/02/2026 09:00 AM 183 Master Docket
Non-Trial Setting
Data Not Entered To Be Set

1/12/2026 09:00 AM 183 Master Docket
Non-Trial Setting
Reset Upon Defense Request N/A Data Not Entered 2/2/2026 Present

Next/Last Setting Date 2/2/2026

link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records