Center PD Rules Death of Center Man a Homicide (Updated)

July 5, 2018 - Sampson Street in Center was the scene of an incident Thursday, July 5, 2018 in which a man was reported to be unresponsive in a back yard.

Center Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene, as well as ambulance personnel at around 10:30am. When Shelby Country Today arrived at the location, officers had cordoned off the outside of the residence and the street.

Residents in the neighborhood surrounded the area and it appeared officers were investigating a possible homicide in the back yard of the residence and seemed to be focused on an area at the front of a pickup truck, which was facing away from the house.

According to a press release issued Friday, July 6, 2018 by Center Police Department Sgt. Nicole Faulkner, at approximately 10:23am July 5, Center Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive person on Sampson St. Upon arrival, officers found Brakia Rashad Roland, 27, of Center deceased.

Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, conducted the inquest and an autopsy has been ordered. Community Funeral Home transported Roland from the scene and he was taken to a facility in Tyler for an autopsy.

The press release finished by indicating the case has been ruled a homicide.