Bexar County Deputy Jailed for Delivering ‘Heroin Tacos’ to Prison

Bexar County Deputy Robert Falcon

Bexar County, Texas

A Texas police officer has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 6-years in prison for attempting to give a prisoner a cache of heroin concealed in a delivery of tacos.

The investigation into Robert Falcon, 48, of the Bexar County Sheriff's Department ended with a sting operation that found him in possession of a heroin-substitute he believed to be the actual drug.

Officers were tipped off to Falcon's activities last June, after discovering a note in a prisoner's cell that outlined a plan to smuggle heroin into the correctional facility. Falcon's address was reportedly on the note.

Officers dropped off a cache of fake drugs, money and taco ingredients at Falcon's house, then observed as he took the fake heroin to the jail, wrapped up inside the food.

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Austin Police Department Fires Officer, Suspends Others After Drinking On The Job and Patrol Car Wreck

Austin, Texas

One Austin police officer is now off the job and six others temporarily suspended due to their involvement in a party that resulted in an unmarked police cruiser being wrecked.

Officer Michael Hamilton was fired following an accident that happened in the early morning hours of December 3, 2010. Six other officers received temporary suspensions ranging from five to 15 days.

The news came after an Austin police disciplinary panel heard serious allegations Thursday about an Austin SWAT team officer who is charged with DWI, and six fellow officers who were accused of violating department policy by drinking while on-call.

It was Hamilton's mangled police car that sparked the investigation into seven members of the Austin police SWAT team. On the night of Dec. 3, Hamilton was on call and allegedly drinking at a party before he left in an unmarked police car. Minutes later, Hamilton hit a curb, flipping the car and sending it into a ditch off Old Convict Road in South Austin.

Less than a week after Hamilton's wreck, news broke he may not have been the only one drinking. An internal investigation began to look at what at least six other members of Austin's SWAT team were doing when Hamilton left the party.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo used Hamilton's wrecked car to send a message. He parked it in front of SWAT headquarters for officers to see.

Four of the officers involved have been reassigned outside of SWAT.

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Sugar Land Police Officer Accused of Fictitious Police Report

Woman Claims Police Report is Work of Fiction: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Sugar Land, Texas

A woman is arrested and charged with aggravated assault against a police officer. The details against her are disturbing and violent, but are they true?

"We didn't do anything wrong and they put him (her 14-year-old son) on the ground and they had guns facing at him," said Yolanda Reed.

Reed is accused of running over a Sugar Land Police officer, with her son in the car, in the parking lot of Sugar Land Methodist Hospital on April 26.

Less than 2 weeks after being charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, Reed was no-billed by a grand jury: case closed, case thrown out.

Sugar Land Police confirm there is hospital surveillance video of the incident. Community activist Quanell X said the tape proves Reed did not do what the police report claims.

"I'm appalled by the actions and conduct of this police officer. The district attorney's office should open up an investigation into this officer for falsifying a government document," said Quanell X.

"This lady could have landed in prison over this. If the video tape doesn't confirm what the officer wrote, somebody's not telling the truth here. The videotape isn't lying. Somebody obviously looked at this and said there's absolutely no case here," FOX 26 Legal Analyst Chris Tritico said.

Sugar Land Police Chief Doug Brinkley said he will launch an investigation into the case if Yolanda Reed files a formal complaint.

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Slaton Police Officer Has Resigned: Subject of Dept. Homeland Security Investigation

Slaton, Texas

City officials say the Slaton police officer involved in a recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigation resigned last week but declined to give further details, including the officer’s name.

Individuals from Homeland Security arrived in Slaton last Tuesday for an investigation on one police officer not the entire department, said Slaton Police Chief Royce Goodson.

The officer in question has been employed with the Slaton Police Department for more than 10 years.

Last week, Homeland Security took one computer from the police department.

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Brownsville Police Officer Indicted for Exchanging Information for Cash

Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville Police Officer Enrique Marks was indicted last week by a Cameron County grand jury for barratry.

According to the indictment, he's charged with helping a man get information about a car accident victim for an attorney's office. In return, the indictment claims Marks received some money.

Marks has been suspended without pay.

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San Antonio Cop Already on Leave for Driving Drunk Has Done It Again

San Antonio Police Officer Roland Alvarado

San Antonio, Texas

A trooper with the Department of Public Safety stopped San Antonio Police Officer Roland Alvarado and subsequently arrested him on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

The DPS, however, was not able to provide any specific details regarding the arrest.

Alvarado was taken to the Comal County Jail and released about three hours later, after posting a $2,500 bond, jail records show.

Alvarado, 43, was already on administrative leave from the police department since his arrest three months ago on a drunken driving charge.

He was taken into custody Feb. 11 after hitting a park car outside of a local club. Investigators at the scene said Alvarado smelled like alcohol and failed a field sobriety test.

It's unclear how the latest arrest will affect his career with the police department. A request for a statement from SAPD or an interview with Chief William McManus was not honored.

When contacted by phone, Michael Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, said that he was "sad to hear about "the second arrest” and that Alvarado "has been having a rough time lately."

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Taft Police Officer Fired & Arrested for Sexual Assault of a Child

Taft, Texas

Police in Taft have confirmed arresting one of their own. Armando Padilla, 22, was charged for sexual assault of a child and was also terminated from the Taft Police Department.

"This is disheartening. We are working hard to put the shine back on the badge in Taft and hold them accountable. If you're wearing a badge or not, we still hold you accountable," said Chief Landreth.

Padilla has been working with the Taft Police Department as a patrol officer for a year.

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