Austin officer Castro arrested again

Austin PD Officer James Castro was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and making a terrorist threat, reported the Austin American Statesman. He was suspended without pay on May 21 for an unrelated incident. The new charges relate to an off-duty domestic disturbance. Castro has been on the force since 1995.

Previously, on August 13, 1996, APD officers responded to a disturbance call and were told by the sister of Monica Aparicio that her sister, who'd by then left the apartment, had been arguing with her boyfriend, APD Officer James Castro who was still inside. Castro refused to stand to be searched for weapons, to identify himself, or to otherwise assist in the investigation. The report states that Castro had deep bloody scratches on his chest, indicating that the argument with his girlfriend had been violent. Castro was suspended for one day. (Source: Disciplinary Memorandum, 1-21-97)

Scarcely more than a month after he was disciplined in 1997, Castro was in trouble again for the same thing. On February 28, 1997, APD officers responded to an emergency call regarding a family violence disturbance at the same apartment. "Initially, neither Castro nor Ms. Aparacio responded to the officers knocking at the apartment door," read the disciplinary memo, but soon after Officer Castro "began to cooperate and the officers forced entry into the apartment. Both Officer Castro and Ms. Aparicio were arrested and charged with family violence/assault." Castro was suspended at that time for two days. (Source: Disciplinary Memorandum, 7-15-97)

The Austin American Statesman reported in a later article that Castro no longer works for APD. Better five or six years too late than never, one supposes.