Man wounded by deputy in Galleria area faces assault charge

A Cinco Ranch man who was wounded by an off-duty Waller County deputy early Wednesday morning faces charges of aggravated assault of a police officer.

The deputy shot Jose Guadalupe Cortes, 35, after the Fort Bend County man pointed a gun at him during a traffic-related incident in the Galleria area, officials said.

The deputy, identified in court records as R. Goree, was working security for a construction crew near Post Oak Boulevard and W. Alabama Street around 1:15 a.m. when he saw a man in a dark-colored SUV enter an intersection and stop, impeding the flow of traffic, Houston police said.

When the deputy approached the car and tried to direct Cortes to proceed, the driver pulled out a gun and pointed at the deputy, police said. The deputy feared for his life, police said, and shot his gun several times, hitting Cortes and the vehicle.

The driver did not fire any shots, police have said. He took off and drove to Beechnut Street and West Loop 610, where he called an ambulance for himself about five minutes later, police said.

Bellaire Police responded to the driver's call.

Cortes was taken to Ben Taub Hospital with wounds to his hand and shoulder. He was treated and released.

He is currently being held in the Harris County Jail.