San Antonio Police Department disciplinary records detail a late-night traffic stop in June 2025 in which two patrol officers repeatedly acknowledged a driver appeared intoxicated and unsafe to operate a vehicle, yet ultimately released him with his car and keys—allowing him to later drive approximately 40 miles home. The incident led SAPD to seek indefinite suspension for both officers before discipline was reduced through negotiated agreements. 

Officer Christopher Westbrook received a 30-day unpaid suspension, while Officer Kayla Lecea received a 20-day unpaid suspension, after both waived their rights to appeal. SAPD concluded the officers’ actions endangered public safety, violated multiple department policies, and undermined effective law enforcement. 

A Red-Light Violation Turns Into a Dangerous Stop

The incident began at approximately 3:02 a.m. on June 28, 2025, when Officers Westbrook and Lecea stopped a silver 2021 Chevrolet Malibu after the driver ran a red light near the southbound frontage road of U.S. Highway 281 and West Sunset Road. As the driver attempted to pull over, SAPD records state he nearly struck a utility pole. When officers directed him to park in a nearby lot, the driver instead drove onto a curb, stopped, then drove further onto the curb, behavior investigators later described as erratic and concerning.  Once removed from the vehicle, the driver displayed signs of impairment. Officer Westbrook administered standardized field sobriety tests, during which the driver exhibited multiple indicators commonly associated with intoxication.

Officers Suspected Drug or Alcohol Impairment

During the encounter, Westbrook told the other officer he suspected the driver could be impaired by narcotics and stated directly to the driver, “And we’re under the suspicion that you are under some sort of drug.”  When Animal Care Services officers arrived to help secure the driver’s dog, Westbrook told them, “We think he’s a drunk driver, but there’s definitely something else wrong with him. “He might be on, on some sort of narcotics or something.” Despite these statements, officers did not request a Drug Recognition Expert.

Supervisor Ordered EMS: “It’s Definitely Something”

At approximately 3:41 a.m., Westbrook contacted a supervising sergeant and described the driver’s behavior as abnormal and possibly intoxication-related. Westbrook told the supervisor that although he had not observed clear alcohol indicators, the driver’s driving and behavior were “very odd.”

The supervising sergeant instructed Westbrook to request emergency medical services, telling him, “Alright, just call them out there just in case… it’s definitely something. It’s not nothing.”  Internal affairs later determined that this instruction was considered a lawful order. Although another officer attempted to request EMS, no call for service was ever created, and Westbrook failed to follow up with dispatch. EMS never responded. 

Officers Said Driver Was Unsafe — Then Let Him Go

Throughout the stop, officers repeatedly acknowledged the driver posed a danger. At one point, Westbrook stated, “We don’t deem you safe enough to drive.”  He further warned the other officer, “This is literally like we, we can’t even leave him ‘cause of the way he’s driving… He’s gonna end up hitting someone.” 

The driver was told multiple times to call someone for a ride and warned he could be arrested for public intoxication if he failed to do so. Despite these warnings—and despite acknowledging the driver was unsafe—officers left the scene at approximately 4:18 a.m., leaving the driver alone with his vehicle and keys. 

Officers Returned Without Recording the Contact

In a later statement to internal affairs, the driver said officers returned to the location and warned him he would be arrested if he was still there when they came back SAPD confirmed through Automatic Vehicle Location data that both officers returned to the area between 4:42 and 4:45 a.m., despite being assigned to other calls. However, neither officer recorded this contact on their body-worn cameras.  The driver stated he then drove approximately 40 miles home to avoid another police encounter—despite officers having already determined he was unfit to drive. 

Body Camera Shut Off During Critical Moments

SAPD’s investigation found that Officer Westbrook stopped recording with his body-worn camera during the traffic stop and later admitted on video, “I’m gonna fucking talk to him more, and I, I turned my body camera off and turned it back on.”  Both officers were cited for muting or stopping recordings during an active call without supervisory approval and for failing to record subsequent officer-initiated contact with the driver. 

Written Report Contradicted Video Evidence

In his offense report, Westbrook wrote that he conducted sobriety tests and found “no clues indicating intoxication.” SAPD later determined this statement was inaccurate. A review by SAPD’s Traffic and SFST Instructor found the driver exhibited involuntary horizontal gaze nystagmus, six of eight clues on the Walk-and-Turn, and three of four clues on the One-Leg Stand—results SAPD training standards associate with intoxication. 

Employment and Service History

State licensing records show Officer Kayla Lecea has held an active Texas Peace Officer license and has been employed by the San Antonio Police Department since August 2, 2024, where she remains assigned as a patrol officer. At the time of the June 2025 incident, Lecea had been with SAPD for less than one year.

Officer Christopher Westbrook also holds an active Texas Peace Officer license and has been employed by the San Antonio Police Department since August 2, 2024, where he remains listed as active. Prior to joining SAPD, Westbrook worked for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer from July 2022 through March 2023. His total prior service at the sheriff’s office spanned approximately eight months.

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