Back in 2005 former San Antonio police officer Dean Gutierrez sexually assaulted and was convicted in 2007 of violating the civil rights of transwoman Starlight Bernal. Seems as though the 24 years of federal jail time Gutierrez received in Bernal's case didn't resonate within some elements of the SAPD.
Seven year SAPD officer Craig Nash has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and official oppression of a transwoman.
The alleged victim claimed that Nash picked her up shortly after 3 AM CST at Guadalupe and Zarzamora streets on San Antonio's West Side. Nash handcuffed the victim in the back of a marked patrol car before taking her to an unknown location and forcing her to engage in multiple sexual acts.
The affidavit states Nash reportedly was wearing his police uniform at the time.
The transwoman told police that after the assault occurred, the suspect dropped off the victim at a nearby school on Guadalupe Street.
She boarded a bus for a trip to a police substation to file a complaint, telling officers according to the affidavit, Nash 'wasn't going to get away with this.”
San Antonio police used a Global Positioning System to confirm that Nash's vehicle was in the area at the time of the alleged incident in addition to the complainant being able to pick Nash out of a police lineup.“We will not for a second tolerate this or make any excuses on behalf of anyone who is found guilty of misconduct in this department,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said.
Nash has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal and administrative investigations.
But once again, it's concrete evidence of why transpeople, especially transpeople of color, have issues with the people who are supposed to protect and serve us.
