POST FALLS, Idaho — A Washington man was sentenced after he harassed a Post Falls police officer while in possession of methamphetamine.
According to the prosecutor’s office, on July 9, 2023, officers responded to a Taco Bell parking lot for reports of a possible fight. Dwayne Tallen Houston, 40, had nothing to do with the fight but began antagonizing officers during their investigation.
The prosecutor’s office said after some time, Houston began to target one officer who was Black. He asked the officer why he was looking at him, and the officer told him to have a good day. Houston responded, “You, too, boy,” emphasizing “boy,” according to the prosecutor’s office.
Houston began to walk in the officer’s direction while verbally mocking him. The officer continuously told Houston, “Have a good day, sir.”
Houston continued approaching the officer, calling him “cute” and “boy” while referring to his smile, lips and mother, the prosecutor’s office said. When Houston was within arm’s distance of the officer, his hand was partially tucked under his shirt along his waistline, and he repeatedly called the officer a “public-[expletive]-servant.”
Out of fear, the officer shined his flashlight in Houston’s face, asking if he had a problem. According to the prosecutor’s office, Houston lunged at the officer, yelling, “I sure do . . . get your mother [expletive][expletive] out of my face, boy.”
Houston was arrested, and after being searched, officers located methamphetamine in one of his pockets. Houston was also wearing a leather belt, which read “TEXAS BANDIDOS,” with the “X” in “TEXAS” replaced with a Swastika, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Houston was sentenced on April 2 to five years in prison with parole eligibility after two years for malicious harassment and possession of methamphetamine.
Houston has a lengthy criminal history, all from the State of Washington.
In 2002, Houston was convicted of assault and harassment. Later, in 2002, Houston was once again convicted of assault.In 2004, Houston was convicted of exhibiting/displaying/carrying a weapon with intent to intimidate.In 2005, Houston went to prison after being convicted twice for robbery, one of which involved the display of a firearm/deadly weapon.In 2019, Houston was convicted of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of assault.
In Houston’s 2019 case, he allegedly used an anti-gay slur about two male victims. When Houston was arrested in Post Falls, he was pending charges out of Pierce County for assault, malicious mischief and a hit and run.
