(Guadalupe County) — A Harris County deputy constable was arrested Monday in Guadalupe County after deputies responded to a hit-and-run along Interstate 10 and found the off-duty passenger armed and intoxicated.
Guadalupe County Sheriff’s officials say the incident was reported at 6 p.m. in the 8500 block of Interstate 10 East.
They say a Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office deputy, who was already conducting a traffic stop, received the call about the hit-and-run at the same location.
When the deputy arrived at the scene, he detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the passenger of the vehicle identified as Julio Valdez. The deputy says he observed that Valdez had difficulty maintaining his balance near the heavily traveled interstate.
Valdez, who confirmed that he was carrying a firearm, was taken into custody.
During the arrest, Valdez identified himself as a police officer. The sheriff’s office later confirmed he is employed as a deputy constable with Harris County Precinct 3.
Guadalupe County Sheriff Joshua Ray says the arrest reflects the agency’s commitment to enforcing the law equally, regardless of profession.
“The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office holds all individuals, regardless of profession or affiliation, to the same standard of the law. We will enforce the law equally and without exception. Law enforcement is held to a higher standard, and at the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office we will hold that standard for both ourselves and other members of our profession. I wish we were never placed in this position, but know that if we are, we will do our job,” said Ray.
Valdez was arrested and transported to the Guadalupe County Jail. He is charged with public intoxication and unlawful carrying of a weapon.