In a major victory for Austin Police Association attorneys, two APD
officers who department officials and in one case a jury believed committed sex
crimes have been cleared for return to the force.
The conviction of APD officer
Samuel Ramirez – who a jury found had made unwanted sexual advances and
forced a woman to perform oral sex on him while in uniform on duty – was tossed
out in August because the 3rd Court of Appeals ruled that
prosecutors withheld information from defense counsel, reported the Austin American Statesman. The victim
said in court she was “not worried” about receiving compensation for her
injuries, but her attorney, NAACP state president Gary Bledsoe, had already
filed a civil suit apparently without her knowledge. In any event, prosecutors
had only charged Ramirez with official oppression, which is a Class A misdemeanor, and a conviction would only cost him three
months in jail and his peace officer’s license.
Ramirez was also named as one of the officers allegedly helping protect
a drug ring uncovered by the Mala Sangre investigation, which was famously squashed by
APD brass when they learned it was targeting
Additionally, Sgt. Wendell Poindexter has
returned to APD after being fired from his post as head of the sex crimes unit
after an alleged incident of sexual assault, public lewdness and indecent
exposure against a family member. Poindexter told officers he was too drunk to
remember the incident. The family member at first complained, then later refused to cooperate with prosecutors. Having no
witnesses, the grand jury declined to indict in February.