Woman charged with manslaughter in death of deputy
A woman has been charged with manslaughter in the death of an off-duty Harris County Sheriff ’s Office deputy after a review of surveillance footage found that she entered a Pearland intersection on a red light and struck his motorcycle.
Floribeth Sandoval-Benjume, 40, was arrested Tuesday at her Pearland home — more than a month after the Jan. 2. death of Deputy Bruce Watson, a 20-year veteran of the sheriff’s office as he returned home from a funeral escort. Police said they believe she drove around two vehicles waiting for the red light to change and collided with the deputy, according to Brazoria County court records.
A justice of the peace has since ordered that Sandoval-Benjume be held on $600,000 bail, court documents show. The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office did not know when she would appear in court or if she had an attorney.
During an initial interview at a hospital, the woman told police that she was trying to turn left on a green light, records show.
The surveillance footage showed Sandoval-Benjume’s vehicle — a 2018 Cadillac Escalade — third in line on northbound Kingsley Drive at Shadow Creek
Parkway, authorities said. The light was still red when she drove around the two cars on Kingsley to access the left turn lane. . She paused at the crosswalk and entered the intersection.
Meanwhile, Watson was westbound on Shadow Creek Parkway, turning left with a green light and the two motorists collided.
The impact sent Sandoval-Benjume’s vehicle careening into a light pole.
A Pearland sergeant found Watson — still wearing his uniform — unresponsive on the pavement.
Watson was airlifted to a hospital, where he died. His death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries from a vehicle accident, according to medical examiner records.
At the time of the crash, Watson was headed home from serving as a funeral escort in the Pearland area.
Watson, father of three, had recently became a grandfather. His wife works in the Houston Police Department’s Major Assaults and Family Violence Unit.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez lauded the deputy as a wonderful man who trained the newest among their ranks at the academy. He also served as a field training officer. Most recently, Watson worked the night shift at the emergency dispatch center.
Prior to the sheriff ’s office Watson served in the U.S. Army.