Officers disciplined over domestic violence, insubordination

Two San Antonio police officers were disciplined in December for behavior related to domestic violence, the latest in a handful of high-profile cases involving law enforcement.

Police Chief William Mcmanus issued Officer Jonathan Montalvo an indefinite suspension, which is tantamount to firing, for allegedly punching his girlfriend as they drove on Interstate 10, according to records released Monday.

In a separate matter, Officer Nicolette Muniz received a 15-day suspension for insubordination after she violated a chief ’s direct order to cease communication with her estranged boyfriend, a fellow police officer with whom she had a volatile relationship.

The disciplinary actions come as city and Bexar County officials grapple with the growing problem of family violence. According to the San Antonio Police Department,

at least 30 people died because of family violence last year, many of them women killed by their male partners.

Mcmanus long has maintained that domestic violence is unacceptable in the department, especially among the rank and file, and has sought to weed out police officers accused of misconduct.

In 2018, he fired Officer Justin Ayars, who was accused of striking his then-fiance with a rock, fracturing her face in three places.

The next year, he fired a 25-year veteran of the force, Detective Emanuel Keith Jr., after he allegedly sent his estranged girlfriend a slew of profanity-laced text messages and voicemails threatening to kill her.

Emmanuel won his job back through the arbitration process outlined in the city’s contract with the police union.

Second arrest, firing

Montalvo, 24, and Muniz, 30, have each faced allegations of family violence before.

Montalvo, who had been with the department about three years, was first accused of family violence in November 2019 after a neighbor called 911 to report that there was yelling and screaming coming from a nearby apartment.

When officers arrived, Montalvo’s girlfriend told officers he had grabbed her by the neck during an argument, threw her on the bed and placed his hand over her mouth, constricting her breath.

Montalvo was arrested and charged with strangulation assault, a felony, and released on bail. He is currently awaiting indictment.

In June, Montalvo was arrested again — this time after an unidentified motorist traveling behind Montalvo’s vehicle on I-10 saw him punch a woman in the face.

Montalvo lost control of his gray Dodge vehicle and crashed into a guardrail, records state. When officers arrived, they found Montalvo and his girlfriend inside.

Montalvo’s girlfriend had injuries consistent with a vehicle accident and denied another assault, SAPD said at the time. But during questioning, both admitted they had been living together despite a no-contact order issued by a judge. Such an order requires an alleged abuser to stay away from the applicant or face charges.

Montalvo was arrested for violating the terms of his bail, a misdemeanor, before being released on bail again. That case is pending, according to court records.

In July, Montalvo received an indefinite suspension for the first incident. Then came his second firing in December.

Montalvo is appealing both through arbitration. No hearing has been scheduled yet.

Volatile relationship

Muniz first faced allegations of family violence in April 2019 after a woman — who was also in a romantic relationship with Muniz’s boyfriend, a fellow SAPD officer — told police that Muniz had punched her in the face and neck.

Muniz was arrested on suspicion of assault bodily injury married, a misdemeanor. She was placed on administrative leave as officials conducted a separate review to determine if she violated department rules.

Her criminal case was later dismissed for insufficient evidence. It is not clear if she was ever disciplined administratively.

A few months after her arrest, a deputy chief issued the written order prohibiting Muniz from contacting her boyfriend, Officer Kenneth Moreno, who has also been accused of domestic violence.

In June of last year, Muniz told another police officer that she had been with Moreno and that they had gotten into an argument, disciplinary records state. She told the officer that her shoulder was injured after Moreno grabbed and twisted her arm, pushing her to the ground. It was that incident that led to her 15-day suspension.