New Braunfels Fire Captain Suspended After Station 7 Confrontation
A New Braunfels Fire Department captain has been suspended for eight days without pay after an internal investigation found he harassed a subordinate and created a hostile environment at the city’s newest $9.7 million fire station. The incident, which began during an EMS call in October, escalated into a heated exchange at Fire Station 7, just months after the facility opened its doors.
Starr County Judge Used Courtroom to Settle Private Dispute, State Commission Finds
What happens when a local disagreement over an old pickup truck ends up inside a judge’s courtroom — without a single case ever being filed? That’s the question now raising eyebrows in Starr County, where a state panel says a justice of the peace went too far.
Internal Affairs, External Questions: Trust and Truth in Comal County
Comal County Lieutenant Michael Guerra has overseen nearly fifty internal affairs cases, most ending in “sustained” findings. On paper, it looks like accountability at work. But Guerra’s own past — admitting dishonesty during an internal probe in Seguin — raises deeper questions. Did he sustain deputies for minor missteps while excusing serious misconduct? And can the public truly trust the integrity of internal affairs when the man making those determinations once misled investigators himself?
Hays County Judge Publicly Admonished Over Recusal Controversy, Staff Complaints, and Courtroom Chaos
Former Hays County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Millie Thompson has been formally admonished by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct after a turbulent four months in office. The Commission found that Thompson created a hostile work environment, improperly recused herself from cases, and clashed with staff and fellow judges in a series of incidents that included shouting matches, trespass warnings, and even changing the locks on her courthouse office.
From Brunch to Jail: New Braunfels Firefighter Suspended After Wild Off-Duty Night
What began as a casual Sunday brunch with mimosas ended in a shirtless scuffle downtown, a foot chase near Schlitterbahn, and an arrest for public intoxication. City records show firefighter Mark Alan Gonzales drank at bars, snuck alcohol into a city recreation center, fought with a colleague, and hurled profanities at police before being taken to jail. Weeks later, the fire department hit him with a 15-day suspension without pay, raising questions about accountability — and why he was charged only with public intox.
From Locker Room to Courtroom: Lockhart ISD Faces Questions After Coach’s Arrest
The arrest of former Lockhart ISD coach Aaron Aguilar has led to a federal lawsuit that questions how the district handled student safety. Aguilar, taken into custody in April on a charge of sexual performance of a child, is accused in court filings of grooming and abusing a junior high student over two school years.
The lawsuit argues that Aguilar’s conduct was made possible by failures inside Lockhart ISD — from inadequate background checks to poor staff training and what the filing describes as a “dysfunctional” Title IX system. It also points to earlier cases of educator misconduct as warning signs the district allegedly overlooked.
What began in the locker room has now moved into the courtroom, leaving the Lockhart community to confront whether the district fulfilled its duty to protect students.
Shielding the Badge: Allegations of Excessive Force and Evidence Suppression Inside Bexar County
A late-night 911 call for medical help turned violent when Bexar County deputies allegedly pinned a 16-year-old boy to the ground, blocked paramedics, and later claimed key body-camera footage was “damaged.” Now, a lawsuit accuses the Sheriff’s Office of excessive force, evidence suppression, and a broader pattern of protecting its own at the expense of families in crisis.
Tracking the Promise: How DA Kelly Higgins Has Handled Public Integrity Cases
Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins campaigned on a pledge to prosecute abuse of power “without regard for status or party.” Now, after almost three years in office, the public record offers a clearer picture. From four no-billed fatal-force cases to deferred prosecutions, pending indictments, and ongoing civil rights litigation, we review the outcomes — and the gaps — in Higgins’ public integrity record.
Handcuffed. Pregnant. Injured After SAPD Encounter. Federal Appeal Challenges Dismissal.
After a pregnant, handcuffed woman was knocked unconscious during an SAPD arrest, a judge dismissed her case — saying it wasn’t clear whether she was pushed or tripped. Now, a federal appeal argues the force used was unconstitutional and the case should go to a jury.
Comal County Deputies Accused of Assaulting Grieving Parents
A federal lawsuit claims two Comal County deputies used excessive force against a grieving mother and father just moments after they arrived at the scene of their son’s suicide. One deputy allegedly slammed the mother into a patrol vehicle; the other is accused of tackling the father, causing a seizure and serious injuries. The suit names both deputies and the county, citing failures in training and oversight.