SAN ANTONIO - We’ve learned of new details and damaging accusations against a Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy arrested this week for DWI and assault.
Deputy Susanna Cervantes struggled with police officers after they pulled her over Thursday night. Officers had to use a taser to subdue her. Cervantes is charged with several offenses. Now the deputy's ex-husband is painting a picture of an extremely troubled person, who he says abused prescription drugs and her authority.
“You can tell she's lost. She's really lost,” Russell Cervantes told us.
He gave his reaction to the video of San Antonio police officers arresting his ex-wife. When police stopped, then opened the door to the deputy's car, they tell us she was uncooperative and tried to reach for something in the center console.
There was a scuffle, and Deputy Cervantes was tased. However, she pulled out the prongs, and police say they were forced to tase her a second time.
Russell Cervantes claims his ex-wife has a history of abusing prescription medication while on duty.
“She takes Vicodin. That's what she knows. She's on Vicodin. She doesn't look drunk,” he said.
Police have not released any results of toxicology tests that might show what was in Deputy Cervantes’ system at the time of the arrest.
Last September, police arrested Cervantes following a domestic disturbance. After putting her in the back seat of a patrol car, officers say she kicked out both rear door windows.
In this latest episode, Cervantes' ex believes the deputy was high on prescription pills and not drunk.
“She's been pulled over so many times, maybe like three times, and they let her go home, you know. It's just the power she had. We'd go into restaurants and get free meals because, you know, she had the badge, the uniform,” Russell Cervantes said.
At Deputy Susanna Cervantes' home Saturday no one answered to our knock at the door. The sound of a TV and a barking dog could be heard within.
We had hoped to get her response to the allegations made by her ex-husband, who told us, “She went in being a good cop, but ended up being a bad one.”
In addition to the multiple criminal charges against Deputy Cervantes, the new Bexar County Sheriff, Susan Pamerleau, says she'll conduct an internal investigation and take swift and decisive action.
