Police: Deputy arrested for DWI ordered burger, fell asleep

Sanchez Sanchez Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Police: Deputy arrested for DWI ordered burger, fell asleep 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — An off-duty deputy charged last week with driving while intoxicated had fallen asleep inside a Whataburger before he was found asleep again — this time behind the wheel of a running pickup — with a cold, open “tall boy,” a newly released police report states.

Ricardo Sanchez, 37, of Universal City, was arrested outside the Pat Booker Road restaurant April 30.

The restaurant manager told police that after the food was brought to Sanchez, the deputy had trouble finding it on the table, the report released Tuesday states.

Sanchez also walked behind the counter and into the kitchen while he was looking for the bathroom, the manager told police.

Just after 5:30 a.m., a Universal City police officer said he heard an engine running near the front entrance and heard it again after leaving the fast-food place moments later.

The officer wrote in the report that he saw Sanchez asleep behind the wheel and had to knock multiple times on the window to wake him up.

When Sanchez rolled down the window, the officer could smell alcohol, the report states.

The officer wrote that Sanchez's eyes were glassy and his speech was slurred, but he identified himself as a Bexar County deputy. Sanchez thought the time was about 10 p.m. and was uncooperative in answering questions, according the report says.

He eventually told the officer he drank two beers at a friend's house, the report states.

The officer began conducting field sobriety tests, prompting Sanchez to ask whether the officer was trying to “burn him with a DWI,” authorities said. Sanchez failed the test, the report states.

Sanchez later consented to breath tests, which placed his blood alcohol levels at .173 and .184, the report says. He was charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .15 or greater — a Class A misdemeanor that, if he's convicted, could result in a sentence of up to a year in jail.

The Texas Penal Code doesn't elaborate on what constitutes “operating a motor vehicle” while intoxicated, but the courts have broadly defined it as being in control of the vehicle, First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg said Wednesday.

More Information



Bexar County deputy charged with DWI

“If you're in the driver's seat and it's running, you're in control and operating the vehicle,” Herberg said.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has placed Sanchez on administrative duty without driving privileges, pending criminal trial and an internal investigation, spokesman Rosanne Hughes said.

The Sheriff's Office has up to 180 days to complete the internal investigation.

amalik@express-news.net

Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN