“ALL CHARGES ARE DISMISSED!!!” read the text sent by Harold McMillan Monday afternoon. The much-beloved DiverseArts Culture Works director and musician was recently roughed up, arrested, and charged with “interfering with the duties of a public servant” when he attempted to retrieve his recently deceased brother’s belongings, by prearranged agreement, from Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital (see “McMillan ‘Traumatized’ by Houston Cops,” April 20). “Having the charges dismissed or thrown out was the assumption that I made from the very beginning. I was surprised that the prosecutor’s office was going to pursue it,” he said Tuesday. Instead, McMillan had to borrow money to hire a lawyer, get video of the incident subpoenaed, and appear in court; the case was not dismissed until shortly before a second scheduled court date. “I’m overjoyed,” said McMillan. “I did not want to play the lottery of having to go through a trial in Houston.” He and his lawyer are currently “considering all options for filing complaints and making sure the right people know about the incident,” he added. McMillan also said local response to his plight gave him a “new feeling of appreciation” for friends and allies here, who petitioned Houston’s mayor, set up a fundraising page for him on Facebook, and offered encouragement and sympathy. “I’m very grateful,” he said. “I’ve received a lot of love from Austin, Texas.”
This article appears in May 18 • 2012.