former SAPD officers charged with assault argue they were doing their job

SAN ANTONIO – Two former San Antonio police officers are on trial for “pummeling” a person inside of his East Side house in January 2020.

But a protection legal professional for Carlos Castro and Thomas Villarreal argued the pair were justified in time and again punching Eric Wilson as they arrested him after an tried visitors prevent.

The pair had a “rough job dealing with rough people and sometimes were required to do rough things” and “what may look awful is not unlawful,” protection legal professional Jason Goss stated in his opening commentary.

Castro and Villarreal were arrested and charged with annoyed assault by way of a public servant in December 2021 because of an over the top use of drive incident on Jan. 16, 2020.

The incident additionally were given them fired from the dept, regardless that they are interesting the verdict.

The officers on that evening pulled over a automotive touring 48 mph on North Walters Street, the place the rate restrict is 35 mph. The automotive additionally didn’t sign previous to turning onto Lamar Street, police stated.

Officers activated their emergency lighting and approached the automobile, which had pulled right into a driveway on Lamar Street.

Wilson, who was once using the automobile, were given out of the car and walked clear of officers, who famous that the car was once emitting a robust smell of marijuana, in keeping with the police document.

Police bodycam video performed in court docket Friday confirmed Wilson strolling clear of his automotive into the entrance door of his house on Lamar Street as no less than one officer drew his gun and shouted for him to prevent and display his arms.

You can watch each officer’s frame cam movies within the avid gamers under. Content caution: violence and language

“He (Wilson) reacted, ‘I’m not sure I want any of this,’ and he went into his home,” stated Daryl Harris, head of Bexar County District Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, throughout his opening commentary.

Wilson, who took the witness stand Friday, stated he didn’t understand the officers till he were given out of his automotive, and he didn’t prevent as a result of “I know I wasn’t even in trouble. So why would I stop?”

Wilson’s brother can also be noticed at the video exiting the entrance door and asking ‘What’s occurring?’ as Wilson slips in in the back of him.

The video then displays Villarreal and Castro looking to drive their manner in by way of kicking the door and accommodation a chair into it as soon as it in part opens. Villarreal additionally tries unsuccessfully to make use of his Taser.

As police yell for Wilson to position his arms up, Wilson can also be heard announcing throughout the door that the officers don’t have a warrant.

Goss argued that Wilson — who has a long legal report that features a conviction for homicide, was once on federal supervised liberate, and was once later discovered to have methamphetamine in his automotive — were hoping to steer clear of going again to jail.

“You cannot have ‘olly olly oxen free,’” the protection legal professional stated. “You can’t say, ‘I’m carrying drugs. I don’t want to get arrested. I don’t want to get stopped. I’ll run in my house and now I’m safe.’”

Harris stated “six, seven officers” sooner or later got here throughout the door.

“In the two minutes of that entry, Wilson was pummeled 20-plus times about his head and face, fracturing his eye socket, breaking his nose, causing serious bodily injury to his eye, impaired his vision,” the prosecutor stated.

Wilson’s mugshot confirmed accidents visual round either one of his eyes.

The bodycam video displays Wilson being taken to the bottom and officers touchdown a lot of blows whilst shouting “show me your f****** hands!”

Both Villarreal and Castro had Wilson’s blood on their our bodies, in keeping with the police document. Villarreal sustained a bruised hand from the incident.

Goss stated police were involved Wilson may have a weapon, so they punched him time and again till they may just see his arms.

“If you show your hands, you don’t get punched. If you won’t show your hands and resist arrest, you will get punched,” he stated.

Prosecutors, regardless that, stated Castro and Villarreal didn’t accurately practice the legislation when it got here to arresting Wilson.

If convicted, the former officers may just resist lifestyles in jail.