Bexar County deputy could be fired after running from police during alleged DWI stop
Bexar County is taking steps to remove a deputy that ran from San Antonio Police during an alleged DWI, July 1, 2022.
JJ Trevino
A Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy may lose his job after a Friday morning arrest. BCSO Deputy Ernesto Garza, 32, was arrested around 2:20 a.m. on Friday, July 1, for driving while intoxicated and evading arrest/detention with vehicle, according to a statement from a San Antonio Police Department representative.
A statement from BCSO says Garza is an eight-year veteran of the department, hired Aug. 26, 2013, and is an investigator with the Law Enforcement Bureau. He has been served with a notice of proposed dismissal by the county, the statement reads. Pending the outcome of the SAPD’s criminal case, a separate administrative investigation is moving forward concurrently, BCSO says.
“This is a seasoned law enforcement investigator who undoubtedly knows his actions were wrong. It’s my belief he knowingly gambled with his career and is well on his way to losing that bet,” says BCSO Sheriff Javier Salazar in the statement. “Putting the lives of the public and the first responders who arrested him at risk is inexcusable. The consequences will be swift and severe.”
An SAPD DWI officer observed Garza driving at 80 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone on southbound I-10 West near Vance Jackson Road. The deputy was also failing to keep his vehicle in a single lane and made improper lane changes, SAPD says.
Garza then failed to pull over when the SAPD officer turned on his emergency lights. SAPD then turned off their emergency lights and followed him. Garza went onto I-35 North before exiting at New Braunfels Avenue and going on to run a red light at New Braunfels Avenue and Lamar Street.
Soon after, Garza came to a stop and was taken into custody, the statement reads. However, Garza refused a field sobriety test and a warrant was used to take a blood sample. He was then booked into jail and charged.
Garza’s DWI is a Class-B misdemeanor and had a $1,000 bond. The evading arrest/detention with vehicle charge is a third degree felony with a bond set for $10,000. SAPD declined to comment on whether or not he had posted bail as of 3:30 p.m., or if he had any prior criminal charges related to alcohol.
The case number is SAPD22139943.
