Houston Police Sued By Family of Doctor Killed By Officer Speeding Without Lights or Siren

Houston, Texas

The family of a doctor killed in a wreck with a Houston Police Department cruiser has filed a lawsuit against the city.

In a statement released Thursday, the heirs of Dr. Estala Medrano said they are asking for unspecified damages relating to physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses, and funeral expenses.

The crash occurred on Aug. 30 around 12:30 a.m. According to HPD, the officer involved in the crash was responding to an emergency when his cruiser slammed into the couple’s Scion.

Police said the officer was on a Code 2 response, which means it was a high priority call without any siren on or emergency lights flashing.

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Edinburg Texas Cop Accused of Releasing Woman From Jail In Exchange For Sex: Police Say His Suspension Is Unrelated

Edinburg, Texas


Police are investigating after an officer was accused of having sex with an inmate.

According to court documents, the officer is accused of using his position to have sex.

The woman was in jail for robbery, and she had an ongoing relationship with the officer.

According to the court documents the officer allegedly offered her freedom quote pending further investigation end quote.

That's when the woman allegedly offered sex. The pair went into the police department's conference room and they each performed sex acts.

The next day the inmate was released.

The officer is on administrative leave.

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Houston Metro Police Admits Failure of Motorist Assist Program Following News Investigation

Houston, Texas

"No one was watching the GPS on a daily basis," said Tom Lambert, vice president of METRO's police department, admitting that each vehicle is outfitted with satellite tracking equipment.

Lambert said managers were not watching because they received no complaints and had no reason to suspect workers were avoiding their duty.

Over a two-month period, Local 2 Investigates found several METRO Motorist Assistance Program workers avoiding their duties of patrolling Houston freeways for stranded drivers. Hidden cameras found one driver parking his truck at the same restaurant day after day, sometimes leaving to head to another lunch break with other MAP employees.

A 31-year veteran worker resigned his position after Local 2 Investigates found him visiting numerous X-rated video stores while on duty. He was also recorded spending hours leaned back in his truck in hidden parking lots.

A criminal investigation was launched into veteran worker David Richard after his daily work records reflected 11 different stranded motorists being helped, during times that Local 2 Investigates found him elsewhere, sometimes across town.

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Dallas Police Officer Suspended For Lying To Judge

Dallas, Texas

A Dallas police officer recently received a 15-day suspension after internal investigators concluded he failed to show up to testify in court and then lied about his actions.

Police Officer Wayne Starks was disciplined during Sept. 30 hearing. He can appeal the decision.

According to internal affairs records released this week, Starks was sworn in to testify at a DWI trial in April 2010.

When the trial was continued into a second day, Starks told the judge that he could not be there due to a personal issue. The judge ordered starts to appear in court and told him to make arrangements for his personal issue.

On the following day, Starks did not show up as the judge had instructed. Starks later told a supervisor that he had been involved in an accident and a relative was in the car with him. He also told the supervisor that his cell phone was left in his towed vehicle and that was why he was unreachable.

Starks later admitted that he had lied about his relative being in the vehicle with him at the time of the accident, that his vehicle was towed and that his cell phone was left in the towed vehicle, internal affairs records show.

The internal investigation also found that Starks lied to a county court prosecutor regarding his reason for missing court.

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Plano Cop Blames His Gun-Mounted Flashlight In Fatal Shooting of Suspect

Plano, Texas

A Plano narcotics sergeant intended to activate a flashlight affixed to his service weapon when he accidentally pulled the trigger, fatally shooting a drug suspect in a Far North Dallas parking lot last month, the officer told investigators.

"I never intended to fire my weapon," the sergeant said in a statement to Dallas police detectives following the Oct. 13 shooting of suspected drug dealer Michael Anthony Alcala, 25. "I never intended to have my finger on the trigger. I was only attempting to operate the flashlight mechanism."

The officer, who remains on administrative leave, is not being identified because he works undercover.

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Fort Worth Officer Gets 20 Years For Intoxication Manslaughter - Killing Mother Of Two

Fort Worth, Texas

A Tarrant County jury sentenced former Fort Worth police narcotics officer Jesus Cisneros to 20 years in prison Thursday afternoon, hours after he pled guilty to driving drunk when he killed Sonia Baker, a mother of two, last December.

At the judge's instruction, the jury found him guilty and the punishment phase of the trial began. About 4:15 p.m., the jury returned the 20-year sentence, the maximum on the charge.

The former officer had a 0.17 blood-alcohol level - more than twice the legal limit - and was driving 76 mph in a 35 mph zone.

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San Saba Sheriff Could Face Investigation For Misconduct - Citizens and Tourists Raise Complaints

San Saba, Texas

A Central Texas Sheriff could face an investigation for official misconduct.

On Monday, the City Council of San Saba, about 80 miles west of Killeen, voted three-to-one to turn over statements accusing Sheriff Allen Brown of misconduct to a district attorney.

Allegations made by San Saba citizens accuse Brown of pulling over motorists without cause, and disrupting business and tourism.

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Photo: KXAN-TV Austin