A Texas juvenile investigator was suspended following an arrest, although she is still receiving pay. Charged with a DWI, she has apparently not posted her bond yet. Although the local police chief noted that the woman has never had any type of criminal violation during her time on the force, a conviction could have an adverse impact on the future of her career.
Around 2 a.m., a patrolling police officer supposedly witnessed a vehicle fail to stop at a red light. When the officer turned on his flashing lights and pulled up behind the vehicle, the driver reportedly attempted to pull over but ended up striking the curb. The vehicle then went up onto the sidewalk, where it came to a rest.
It was determined that the driver of that vehicle was one of Texas’ Criminal Investigations Division’s juvenile investigators. Although her drunk driving charge is only a misdemeanor, she was placed behind bars on $1,000 bond. It is not clear exactly how the arresting officer determined that the driver was intoxicated, or if the driver was asked to undergo field sobriety tests or any type of blood-alcohol content test at the time of her arrest.
After spending the past 23 years serving the state without any criminal issues, a conviction for a DWI could potentially put her career in jeopardy. Other possible consequences include six months in jail as well as thousands of dollars in fines. Depending on what related evidence may be available in conjunction with her charges, her decision to handle the charges through either a plea agreement or by contesting the accusations throughout the duration of the trial court proceedings will likely be based on careful review and consideration of the charges.
Source: mysanantonio.com, “South Texas police officer charged with DWI after driving onto sidewalk“, Madalyn Mendoza, May 19, 2015
