By Mark
D. Wilson, San Antonio Express-News : December 19, 2013
SAN ANTONIO — A Castle Hills police officer who fatally shot a San Antonio
man last month has received a three-day suspension for violating department
policies.
Castle Hills Police Chief Wayne Davis said Capt. John Siemens, the department's second in command, will take a
three-day suspension at a later date for violating the department's code of
conduct that states all on-duty activities of police officers must deal with
Castle Hills business.
Siemens was in the 9400 block of Rue De Bois on Nov. 20 when he fatally
shot Andrew Beard, who had been firing weapons outside his mother's home
on the Northwest Side.
“The shooting was not Castle Hills business,” Davis said.
Siemens left his post when his brother, who lived on the same street,
called to tell him what Beard was doing.
Beard had been involved in a standoff a few weeks earlier.
At that time, police deemed he was not a threat to himself or others, and
he was not detained.
On Nov. 20, Siemens arrived at the scene and evacuated a few houses before
joining San Antonio Police Department officers.
When San Antonio police arrived and began to set up, Beard fired two shots
at officers.
San Antonio police initially returned fire, wounding the man.
As Siemens approached with two SAPD officers, Beard grabbed a handgun and
pointed it at officers, police have said.
Siemens fired one shot, striking Beard in the torso.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Since the incident, Siemens has been on administrative duty.
