Officer refused a breathalyzer
test
By Calily Bien
AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin
police officer has been indefinitely suspended for allegedly driving while
drunk in Bastrop County in August of last year.
According to a disciplinary
memo, Officer Ricardo Zapata, 55, was in his personal vehicle when he was
pulled over by a Department of Public Safety trooper for a faulty brake light.
During the traffic stop, the
trooper noticed Zapata was slurring his speech and had the smell of alcohol on
his breath.
A field sobriety test was given
but Zapata refused a breathalyzer test and a blood draw. Zapata was taken to
the Bastrop County Jail where he was booked for DWI and a warrant was issued
for his blood sample.
The blood sample showed Zapata
was intoxicated more than twice the legal limit of .08.
During his Internal Affairs
review, Zapata said he had six beers in less than two-and-a-half hours and five
beers before he left his house.
In the memorandum, APD Chief
Art Acevedo says "Officer Zapata's failure to act responsibly and his
decision to drink and drive in violation of law and APD policy bring discredit
to APD, and tend to destroy public confidence in, and respect for the
Department's initiatives and goals."
Zapata has 10 days to appeal
the indefinite suspension. His case in Bastrop County is still pending.