Community Activist Quanell X (center) stands among the crowd just minutes before gaining entrance to the Armstrong Medical Clinic on behalf of Dr. Davill Armstrong. Community Activist Quanell X (center) stands among the crowd just minutes before gaining entrance to the Armstrong Medical Clinic on behalf of Dr. Davill Armstrong. Community Activist Quanell X (center) stands among the crowd just minutes before gaining entrance to the Armstrong Medical Clinic on behalf of Dr. Davill Armstrong. Photo by Erica Davis When the helicopters flew low over the African-American News&Issues’ complex early last Wednesday, I knew that something out of the ordinary was happening in the neighborhood. A few minutes later, as they criss-crossed and hovered overhead in eyeview of staff members, who have grown accustomed to hearing police and news helicopters, as well as the roaring engines of HPD squad cars as they chase misguided hoods through our community, a phone call from one of Acres Homes’ community leaders confirmed that this was the start of something big.  After  weeks of rumor and innuendo, Houston police and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents assisted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) with a raid  on the offices of Armstrong Medical Clinic, 6826 W. Montgomery Rd. in connection with Dr. Conrad Robert Murray—the embattled physician who is being investigated with the death of Pop star Michael Jackson.

When AAN&I’s Lisa Smith arrived on the scene, she discovered the Clinic’s front door was being guarded by two Houston Police and two DEA agents and a small gathering of bystanders at the adjacent Orlando’s Supermarket and the Acres Homes Multi-Purpose Center across the street. The media was “encouraged” to stay back and Smith complied.  A short time later, staff member Erica Davis, having been tipped earlier by a member of law enforcement, arrived as the crowd began to grow after the rumor quickly spread by the grapevine that Dr. Murray himself was holed up in the non-descript building.
 
Lloyd Giles, one of Dr. Armstrong’s patients expressed his concern and advised the media to stay back because the patients were there for treatment. “We need to see our doctor. I have no insurance. Dr. Armstrong has helped many people without insurance and have given us what we need,” he stated.

Community activist Quanell X arrived on behalf of Dr. Armstrong.  He stated, “Dr. Armstrong is asking everyone to leave the site. He is okay and would like peace.”

Several patients implored the gathering pool of reporters and cameramen to  “Leave him alone!” and others offered, “Michael Jackson killed himself.”
Tensions began to mount as the citizens of Acres Homes voiced their opnions to protect one of their own. The community at large appears to be divided between those who loved Michael Jackson and fear foul play at worst, and sloppy medical care at best and others who believe Dr. Murray and by extension, Dr. Armstrong, are getting a bad rap. They point to the history of care in the community, even assigning the fact that Murray’s father, the late Dr. Rawle Andrews, was a long time physician who practiced in the area for decades.

Others pointed out that the Acres Homes Medical Clinic provided low-cost care to area low-income residents, who are for the most part, under-insured or have no insurance at all. Although the historical community is dotted with new model brick homes as well as shotgun houses, as, the crowd became boisterous, the community was represented by working-class citizens, young men in sagging pants and girls in short-shorts. Ironically, later that night, President Obama would defend his health care plan and the majority of the people on the verge of rioting were the very ones he’s fighting for.

But just like the Spike Lee’s movie, “Do the Right Thing,” tempers  began to flare, although Houston’s temperature stayed under 95 degrees.  As Quanell X was speaking, Channel 11 News cameraman Frank McBride pushed an independent photographer. This fueled the fire as those in the crowd whose  vision was blocked, thought that McBride had pushed Quanell X.

The unidentified photographer decided to call the police to press charges against McBride. Paramedics were called as well. After a while, Quanell X was allowed entry into the office along with a patient. “These Black people are something else,” an unknown White man said. A Black woman in the crowd responded, “Don’t call me ... no N*, you White trash.”

It was a little too much  for Orlando’s management who complained to the police who eventually was able to make the crowd disperse without further incident. The bottom line is this case will be on everyone’s mind for the foreseeable future and possibly will be talked about for years to come. In far removed Hollywood, a different story emerges every day, but in Houston, Texas in general and Acres Homes in particular, it seems that everyone has a Dr. Murray story.

As one community leader remarked, “He’s (Murray) a marked man. It doesn’t matter whether or not he is innocent. He can probably kiss his career ... goodbye.” Dr. Armstrong eventually came outside and went straight to his car, without making any comments.