Houston: Man Robs, Stabs K-9, Released on Bond & His Father Is Now Dead

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A manhunt is underway Tuesday for a robbery suspect accused of stabbing a Houston police K-9 on Jan. 22.

Ryan Mitchell Smith, 26, was charged with evading arrest, robbery with bodily injury, and interference with a police service animal. Smith’s bond was set at $50,000. He was due in court on Monday morning.

After bonding out of jail Sunday, Smith was being followed by homicide investigators with the Houston Police Department.

Police said around 12:10 a.m. the suspect was being followed inbound on Katy Freeway when they requested marked patrol units to stop the pickup truck he was in. The suspect led officers on a 10-minute pursuit before crashing on the Houston Polo Grounds located at 8552 Memorial Dr., investigators said. The suspect then fled into the woods while police searched for over two hours. Police said the suspect has not been found.

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Ryan Smith posted $25,000 bond after his arrest, according to court records. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 5, 2022, Harris County court records show. His bail was posted on January 23, according to court records.

According to court documents, Smith is accused of threatening to kill the driver of a car if he didn’t hand over car keys. Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite said Smith’s mother was the first to call 911, about 6:30 a.m., telling police he had left the house and was “looking for guns and talking about killing himself.” Police went to his home but he wasn’t there.

About 7:50 a.m., Smith tried to steal a car from two men, Satterwhite said. He then fled on foot after failing at the carjacking and went into a H-E-B store, where he stole a cell phone charger and ran again, Satterwhite said. Officers caught up to Smith in a parking garage near Interstate 10, behind the Walmart area, close to Yale and I-10, in an apartment complex, Satterwhite said. Officers set up a perimeter and called for K-9 officers, and he “managed to jump buildings, jumped apartment complex parking garages,” according to Satterwhite. He then ran back onto the street around the perimeter.

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Investigators said relatives later called Houston police on Monday to say they hadn't been able to reach Smith's father and were concerned. Officers went to the residence on Carolcrest but didn't find anything.


Detectives later returned to search the house again and that's when they spotted Smith's truck nearby and started chasing him.

After a more thorough search at the house, officers found the father's body. Investigators say Smith was staying at the home with his father after he bonded out.

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