Two longtime officers for the Houston Police Department have been suspended following their arrests earlier this week. One was charged with driving while intoxicated, and the other has been accused of assaulting his girlfriend.
The two officers, Sgt. Stephen Childers, 59, of Clear Lake and senior officer Stephen Martinez, 52, of Katy, have been pulled from active duty pending an investigation by HPD’s Internal Affairs Division, according to a statement released by the department on Thursday.
"The Houston Police Department holds its officers to the highest standard and will take appropriate action up to and including termination," HPD said.
HPD Statement on the arrest of two officers: pic.twitter.com/faWLd59Yxe
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) July 20, 2023
Documents filed in Harris County court show that Childers, a 27-year-veteran of the force, was arrested and charged with DWI at the end of his shift on Wednesday afternoon. Martinez, who has worked for HPD for 29 years, according to court documents, was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with misdemeanor assault of a family member. Both were released from jail Thursday on bonds.
Childers’ defense attorney, Tyler Flood, claimed Friday that a breathalyzer test administered prior to Childers’ arrest showed that his blood-alcohol level was below Texas' legal limit of .08 percent.
A defense attorney for Martinez was not listed in his online court record as of Friday afternoon.
Court documents show that Martinez and his girlfriend went out for dinner and drinks Wednesday night and then returned to her residence in Spring, where an argument allegedly ensued about whether Martinez should drive to his home. Martinez allegedly struck his girlfriend with his hand and then with his elbow after she would not give him his keys or gun, according to court records.
Both officers are set to appear in court July 27, court records show.