SAN ANTONIO – A South Texas police officer was suspended for 20 days without pay after sending multiple text messages to a woman he met while handling a disturbance call, authorities said.
Juan C. Bruno of the San Antonio Police Department was suspended between Nov. 28 and Dec. 17, KSAT-TV reported, citing suspension records.
He was initially given a 30-day suspension, but appealed the decision, the television station reported.
The suspension stems from an incident on June 18, when Bruno responded to a call that involved the woman, according to KSAT.
“What is your name, beautiful?” Bruno asked the woman during the police call, according to his body camera footage.
Approximately one minute after completing his response to the call, Bruno began texting the woman, referencing her appearance and relationship status, according to KSAT.
According to suspension records, Bruno sent texts that included messages like “I’m sorry, I never do this but you really got my attention” and ”Are you married?”
The woman told police she never initiated the text message exchange and stopped responding after 9:25 p.m. CST because the text messages made her feel “uncomfortable,” according to KSAT.
