San Antonio police officer Winder Morales, 33, is a member of the tactical response unit, Friday he was placed on administrative leave. According to the Police report, around 5 a.m, he was drinking and driving in an unmarked police car. He crashed into a traffic barrier and rolled a city vehicle at Highway 90 and General Mcmullen. A spokesperson said he was off-duty at the time and in an unmarked police car.
Authorities said he had alcohol on his breath and had blood shot eyes. Morales refused a field sobriety test. He told police he crashed because his tire blew out.
Morales was released on a personal recognizance bond and went home around 1:30 Friday afternoon.
Morales is the same officer involved in a car accident that killed a civilian back on May 25, 2006. 25-year-old Rodney Brandenberger was killed. A now settled civil lawsuit said Morales was speeding, ran a red light and failed to use his emergency lights or siren. In the 2006 accident, Morales was suspended for 10 days. A year later he was awarded officer of the month. A Bexar County grand jury no-billed morales in the fatal accident.
Morales has served the sapd for 7 years.
