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Round Rock Traffic Stop Sparks Allegations of Racial Profiling, Misconduct

Round Rock Traffic Stop Sparks Allegations of Racial Profiling, Misconduct

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On the evening of December 31, 2022, Sandra Salinas Molina, her husband, and their son were on the cusp of starting a new chapter in their lives after moving to the Austin area. But what should have been a smooth transition into their new community instead spiraled into a protracted ordeal involving allegations of racial profiling, unconstitutional police conduct, and a false arrest. A 20-day incarceration, dismissed charges, and a subsequent federal lawsuit now place a spotlight on policing practices in Round Rock.

A Family’s New Start

The Molina family had traveled to Round Rock from Plainview, Texas, to start afresh. Sandra Molina’s husband had secured work as a subcontractor for the City of Austin, and their son planned to join the same crew. The family arrived with their belongings packed into a borrowed car, temporarily checking into the Extended Stay America hotel on North Interstate 35.

At the hotel’s front desk, Sandra Molina encountered several officers, including Officer Alexis Cheslic Donathan, who was finalizing an unrelated eviction call. Donathan’s intense focus on Molina during this interaction later emerged as a critical element in Molina’s account of the events that unfolded.

The Traffic Stop

Shortly after leaving the hotel to run errands while their room was being prepared, the Molinas noticed a police vehicle following them. Officer Donathan trailed the car for over a mile before activating her police camera. She eventually initiated a traffic stop, citing a “wide right turn” and “failure to signal a lane change” as the reasons.

These allegations quickly came under scrutiny. According to senior officers’ later admissions, a wide right turn is not a traffic violation under Texas law. The claim of failure to signal was equally dubious, especially as Officer Donathan had not recorded the alleged violation, raising questions about her stated probable cause for the stop.

Profiling and the Escalation of the Stop

Court documents allege that Donathan’s actions were rooted in racial bias. The lawsuit contends that Donathan profiled Molina, a Hispanic woman, from the moment she observed her at the hotel, then orchestrated a pretextual stop to detain her. Trainee Officer Grayson Beck Dzialo, speculated that the stop was based on a failure to signal. This speculation, according to the lawsuit, reflects systemic issues within the department, where officers are reportedly trained to use such justifications as pretexts for stops.

Search and Seizure

After stopping the vehicle, Donathan questioned Molina’s husband about whether he had anything illegal in the car. He disclosed that his brother-in-law had left a firearm under the driver’s seat, but stated that he was unaware of anything unlawful. Donathan secured the firearm, confirmed it was legally possessed, and proceeded to search the vehicle.

The search extended to Molina’s personal luggage, which contained prescription medications for anxiety and depression. Donathan neither requested nor received Molina’s consent to search her belongings. In the luggage, she found two bottles of medication, both properly labeled with Molina’s name. Despite the legitimacy of these prescriptions, Donathan subjected them to field drug tests.

The Role of Field Drug Tests

The field tests used by Donathan are at the heart of the allegations against her. Per the lawsuit, manufactured by Nartec Inc. and Sirchie, these tests have faced widespread criticism for their unreliability and tendency to produce false positives. Body camera footage captured Donathan conducting the tests, which failed to yield the expected results. The first test, for cocaine, produced no color change, yet Donathan declared a positive result. The second test, for fentanyl, was mishandled—Donathan shook the kit and delayed reading the results for 20 minutes, in direct violation of the manufacturer’s instructions. She later claimed a positive result.

Lab testing later confirmed that neither substance was present in Molina’s prescriptions, affirming their legitimacy. However, these results came long after Molina had been arrested, charged, and jailed.

Arrest and Detention

Based on the supposed positive test results, Donathan arrested Molina for possession of controlled substances, a second-degree felony. Molina was transported to the Williamson County Jail, where she remained incarcerated for 20 days. During her detention, she was denied access to her prescribed heart medication, causing her blood pressure to rise and exacerbating her physical and emotional suffering. The family’s belongings, including the medications, were confiscated.

The ordeal disrupted the Molinas’ plans for a new beginning in the Austin area. Sandra Molina, unable to begin job applications or support her family during this period, suffered significant financial and emotional consequences.

Internal Departmental Review

After her release, Molina filed a formal complaint with the Round Rock Police Department, requesting a review of her arrest and the conduct of the officers involved. However, her efforts for accountability were met with dismissal. Lieutenant Sean Johnson, who reviewed Donathan’s body camera footage, concluded that the stop and arrest adhered to departmental policies. No internal investigation was conducted, and no officers were disciplined.

The lawsuit alleges that this response reflects a systemic failure within the department to hold its officers accountable. Senior officers reportedly voiced doubts about Donathan’s conduct during the incident but took no action to intervene or correct her behavior.

Federal Lawsuit Filed

Sandra Molina has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Round Rock, its police department, and the officers involved. The lawsuit outlines several constitutional violations, including unlawful search and seizure, racial profiling, fabrication of evidence, and malicious prosecution. It also accuses the department of failing to adequately train and supervise its officers, thereby enabling unconstitutional practices.

The complaint seeks damages for Molina’s physical, emotional, and financial suffering, as well as injunctive relief to prevent similar incidents in the future. Molina’s attorneys argue that the use of unreliable field drug tests, combined with racially motivated policing, constitutes a deliberate disregard for the constitutional rights of individuals.

Dismissal of Charges

On April 5, 2023, all charges against Molina were dismissed. The dismissal underscores the unreliability of the evidence used to justify Molina’s arrest and detention.


Disclaimer

The content provided in this publication is for educational and informational purposes only. The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News strives to deliver accurate and impactful stories. However, readers are advised to seek professional legal counsel and guidance for their specific legal inquiries and concerns. The publication does not assume any responsibility for actions taken by individuals based on the information presented. 

Additionally, while every effort is made to ensure the reliability of the information, the publication does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the content. Readers are encouraged to verify any legal information with official sources and to use their discretion when interpreting and applying the information provided.

A Couple of Our Other Reads

You may be interested in our publishing on a Galveston County lawsuit alleging excessive force.

Or you may find our publishing on a Montgomery County lawsuit filed by a prior federal agent of interest. 


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