SAPD officer arrested for failing to make child abuse report
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A San Angelo Police Department officer was recently arrested for allegedly failing to 'meet the mandated reporting standards related to suspected child abuse,' according to the SAPD.
The SAPD stated that 'a supervisor with the San Angelo Police Department identified a concerning incident while reviewing body camera footage' on March 26, with the footage allegedly revealing that an officer, identified as Rodrigo Hernandez, 'had failed to meet the mandated reporting standards related to suspected child abuse.'
An internal investigation into the incident was 'immediately initiated.' The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office was also requested to conduct a criminal investigation 'due to the serious nature of the allegation — specifically, gross negligence in failing to report suspected child abuse.'
Hernandez was 'relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave' once it was determined that his alleged actions 'constituted a potential criminal offense.'
SAPD officer resigns after 'cleared' of wrongdoing in Lake View High School investigation
'Under the Texas Family Code, professionals — including law enforcement officers — who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused are legally required to report that suspicion to Child Protective Services,' the SAPD said. 'In this case, the relevant statute, 'Knowingly Fail to Make Required Child Abuse Report,' is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor.'
TGSO submitted its findings to the Tom Green County Attorney's Office following the conclusion of its investigation, resulting in a criminal complaint being filed on May 14. The SAPD said that 'a warrant was subsequently issued, and Officer Hernandez voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities.'
The department said that Hernandez 'has now been placed on unpaid temporary suspension' in accordance with Texas Government Code 154.056.
'This administrative action is not intended to reflect an opinion on the merits of the criminal complaint,' the SAPD said.
The SAPD stated that its internal investigation, 'which had been paused to allow for the criminal investigation to proceed,' has been resumed.
'Further updates will be provided as appropriate,' the SAPD said.
SAPD Police Chief Travis Griffith provided this information at a press conference held on May 16, during which he also shared that an update regarding an investigation into a school resource officer at Lake View High School.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Cuban rapper Chocolate MC arrested after robbing fan who asked for a photo: MDSO
An avid Reggaeton listener got a rare opportunity when he noticed well-known Cuban rapper Chocolate MC just feet away from him at a Miami grocery store Tuesday. Unbeknownst to him, he would get more than he bargained for when a quick picture quickly turned to the music artist pointing a gun at him, deputies say. Around 8 a.m., the fan, who was not identified, was pulling into a Chavez Supermarket, 101 Opa-locka Blvd., when he noticed Yosvanis Sierra-Hernandez, better known as Chocolate MC, an arrest report detailed. He waved hello to the artist and called him over to take a picture of him. Sierra-Hernandez obliged and walked to his car, but when he got there, he pulled out a gun, pointed it at the man's chest and demanded the vehicle. That's not all he wanted, as he would soon demand the man give him cash too, the report read. When the fan showed Sierra-Hernandez his cashless wallet, he then demanded the man send him money through Zelle — the fan also did not have Zelle. Not getting any money, Sierra-Hernandez forced the man to drive to several places for the next two hours before eventually releasing him unharmed. Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office detectives combed through surveillance video, which showed the attempted robbery at gunpoint. After putting up wanted fliers throughout the county, authorities arrested Sierra-Hernandez late Tuesday. As of Thursday night, he still remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shocking Police Update About Jonathan Joss' Killing Highlights LGBTQ+ Community's Fears
A new detail about ' murder has come to light as authorities investigating the case released a statement, walking back their initial claims. The beloved "King of the Hill" actor was gunned down on June 1 during a fiery altercation with a neighbor close to his San Antonio, Texas, home. Circumstances around the shooting suggested a hate crime, especially with alleged evidence from Joss' husband. However, the San Antonio police denied such claims until now. In a June 5 press conference, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus gave an update on the case, admitting that his department had hastily declared Joss's shooting not a hate crime. Initially, the police concluded that their "investigation has found no evidence whatsoever" that the actor's sexuality played a role in his murder. However, following immense backlash from the public, Chief McManus confessed the statement was "way, way, way premature." Taking responsibility, he added, "Shouldn't have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information, and I will own that and simply say, again, that we shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued." The police chief further noted that the "premature statement" caused the LGBTQ+ community to feel "anxious," and for that, he once again apologizes. Concluding his speech, McManus paid tribute to the late star, saying, "The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic and most, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community." Chief McManus' message at the press conference is a far cry from the initial statement the SAPD put out about Joss' killing. Just two days after he was shot, authorities debunked online claims of a homophobic attack, saying they "thoroughly reviewed all available information." According to them, "SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously." Now, with the turnaround, the police chief explained why they have yet to charge the suspected killer with a hate crime. He noted that hate crimes cannot be charged separately in Texas. Also, the District Attorney's office is responsible for determining the correct charge. However, Chief McManus assured that his team of detectives is following every lead to get to the truth of Joss' "senseless" killing. Following the press conference, the SAPD announced a community forum, hosted in collaboration with Pride San Antonio, a nonprofit organization specializing in Pride celebrations. In a poster shared on the department's official X page, they urged the LGBTQ+ community in San Antonio to join them in a helpful conversation as they discuss their fears. They also promised to share updates about Joss's case during the June 5 meeting. "We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you, today and always," the department promised. Unfortunately, the walk-back by the police has further enraged members of the LGBTQ+ community. Many took to online platforms to rant about how cases involving hate crimes are often taken with levity. "SAPD continuously fails the LGBTQ community, particularly when they're PoC," one user wrote. "The mishandling of this case is atrocious. SAPD is unprofessional. Something larger needs to be done within this department," another comment read. A third fan suggested the police chief resign over the poor handling of the case. "Chief McManus HAS to go! How dare he allow this big of a mistake to happen," the critic penned. Some fans insinuated that the Pride event was a ploy to victimize members of the LGBTQ+ community. The new update on Jonathan Joss' murder comes after his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged that the shooting was inspired by homophobia. In a lengthy Facebook post, Gonzales recalled details of his husband's death, alleging that their San Antonio neighbors harassed and threatened them for two years. He claimed their burned property was due to those threats. Unfortunately, the bullying continued to that fateful day when they saw the skull of one of their dogs placed in plain view. Gonzales recounted that he and Joss cried in distress, which drew the attention of their neighbor, who was offended. Gonzales said the neighbor began "yelling violent homophobic slurs," after which he reached for his rifle and shot at Joss. The suspect has been identified as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja. He has since been released on a $200,000 bail while awaiting trial.
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Newsweek
Police Address Lack of Hate Crime Charge in Voice Actor Killing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Law enforcement in Texas explained why the man accused of shooting King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss has not been charged with a hate crime. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a press conference on Thursday that hate crimes are not separate charges in the state but are instead addressed through sentencing enhancements. "We don't charge with hate crimes," McManus said. "We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office, and then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing." Joss, 59, was shot multiple times on Sunday at the site of his former home. Officials identified the suspected shooter as 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, who lived at a neighboring property. Ceja has been charged with first-degree felony murder. In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Bexar County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images Why It Matters In a Facebook post on Joss' account, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, Joss' husband, said they were approached by a man "yelling violent homophobic slurs." Gonzales said the man then raised a gun and opened fire. The incident, which happened on the first day of Pride Month, has caused concern among LGBTQ+ members of the community. "Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation," the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) said in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday. "SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly." McManus said the statement was "way, way, way premature." "It was way too soon, before we had any real information and I will own that," McManus said. What To Know McManus said homicide detectives are continuing to pursue leads to determine what led to the "senseless murder" of Joss. Gonzales said their former home was burned down in January "after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire." He said he notified law enforcement but "nothing was done." McManus said there were more than 70 calls to Joss' residence over the past two years involving various neighborhood disturbances. He said some of these incidents were reported by Joss. "Our safe unit, our mental health units, had extensive engagements with Mr. Joss, making repeated efforts to mediate conflicts and connect him with services that he may have needed," McManus said. What People Are Saying San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, during a press conference on Thursday: "To our LGBTQ+ community as we observe Pride Month, please know that your safety and trust matter deeply to us." Tristan Kern de Gonzales, referring to husband Jonathan Joss, in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday: "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other." What Happens Next McManus said officials are "committed to delivering a thorough and complete investigation," which will be filed with the district attorney's office for prosecution. He said they are also working with the San Antonio Fire Department arson investigators to understand how the fire at Joss' former home is connected. "At this time, the investigation remains active, and we need to be cautious about not releasing too much information that could affect, negatively affect, the upcoming legal process," McManus said. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
