Former Houston police officer officer charged with intoxication manslaughter found dead
FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS Aug 6 2017 – The ex-Houston police officer charged with intoxication manslaughter nearly a year ago was found dead Friday, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
James Combs, 33, missed a court date Friday morning. When deputies went to his house, they found him dead of an apparent suicide.
Investigators said Combs’ blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit when he crashed into a car and killed 36-year-old Brian Manring last August.
Deputies said the off-duty cop refused to take a field sobriety test shortly after slamming head-on into Manring’s Corvette.
Deputies at the scene said they “detected the presence of alcohol” on him.
Combs’ wife told investigators he needs help with an “alcohol problem,” according to the arrest warrant. She told them he’d been belligerent with her on the phone that day and that his credit card statement showed he’d been at a strip club early that morning.
Combs was taken to the hospital for a blood draw and minor injuries. His blood alcohol content was .17.
Combs was later fired from HPD.
Friends say Manring was a devoted dad who adored his 8-year-old daughter.
“Everyone who knew Brian, knew that he lived for his daughter. She was his life!!”
Manring’s parents had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Combs and the strip club where he had been that morning.
KHOU
