An officer from the San Antonio Police Department has been dismissed due to negligence in failing to properly search a teenager who tragically took his own life in the Bexar County Jail.
Officer Abdiel Munoz received an indefinite suspension on July 29 due to findings from an internal affairs investigation. The investigation concluded that Munoz neglected his duty and displayed acts of incompetency, according to city discipline records released on Friday.
A tragic incident occurred on March 3, when a young man named Jesus Gonzales, 19, took his own life while being strip-searched by a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy.
In late March, KSAT Investigates obtained SAPD body-worn camera footage that revealed a concerning incident. The footage showed that several officers, including Munoz, neglected to properly search Gonzales after he was apprehended on a felony warrant at a nearby restaurant where he was employed. This oversight is cause for concern.
BCSO Sheriff Javier Salazar expressed his disapproval of the incident, emphasizing that guns should never be allowed inside a jail.
It remains unclear whether any deputies have faced disciplinary action for the incident, as BCSO officials have not provided any information on this matter.
Munoz’s disciplinary records offer a more comprehensive explanation of the events that preceded the shooting.
According to records, Gonzales was apprehended by officers who responded to a call about a wanted person. Munoz conducted a search on him at the scene.
According to records, Munoz escorted Gonzales to jail and had him stand against a wall in a small entryway upon arrival.
Records indicate that after removing Gonzales’ handcuffs, a BCSO deputy proceeded to secure him with leg restraints.
According to records, a BCSO corporal proceeded to perform a pat down of Gonzales and then escorted him to the warrant area.
According to records, after being taken to a small room for a strip search, Gonzales tragically took his own life by shooting himself in the head with a concealed handgun.
Munoz has been employed by SAPD since 2010.
According to a report from KSAT 12 News, the policy of the San Antonio Police Department states that officers responsible for transporting prisoners are held responsible if any prisoner arrives at a detention facility or processing room with a weapon, dangerous object, or contraband.
There is no evidence to suggest that any of the other officers involved in Gonzales’ arrest have faced suspension, according to KSAT’s investigation.