Officer Curtis W. Lundy, 36, a nearly four-year veteran, was arrested Thursday about 6:30 p.m. after getting back to the North patrol substation toward the end of his shift.
He spent the night in a federal holding facility before appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo on a charge of theft of honest services by wire fraud, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Lundy, shackled at the wrist and ankles, was read the charge and given his next court date of Jan. 17 before Primomo ruled he could be released on a personal recognizance bond.
He's now on administrative leave with pay but if he's indicted that would change, Chief William McManus said during a news conference.
The case against Lundy moved quickly, McManus said, after a man called both the San Antonio Police Department internal affairs unit and the FBI a couple of days ago.
The man, who isn't identified in court documents, told the FBI that Lundy was one of three officers who responded to an assault call Dec. 15 at the Salado Crossing Apartments, where the man had gotten into an argument with someone at the apartment, according to a federal arrest warrant affidavit.
After he admitted having a small amount of marijuana in his car, the man said Lundy detained him and told him he could “help him out,” by not filing possession charges if he got $400 in return, according to the affidavit.
The man told Lundy he didn't have the money on him but that he could provide it by Jan. 2. He was allowed to leave and subsequently received phone calls from a blocked number concerning the payment, which had gone up to $500, the affidavit said.
Lundy was arrested less than 48 hours after the man called SAPD and later the FBI, McManus said Friday.
The agencies worked together to set up a surveillance team to track Lundy after he reportedly told the man to meet up with him at Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue.
Authorities gave the man a recording device and marked bills for the payoff, the affidavit said.
There was no conversation, the affidavit said, but after the exchange, the man received a call from a person he believed to be Lundy who said: “It's all here and everything's OK.”
McManus said officials followed Lundy back to the substation where he was arrested. Lundy had minor procedural infractions on his record but no past suspensions, McManus said.
“There are few things in public service that are worse than a bad cop,” McManus said, adding that the department wouldn't tolerate such behavior by officers or any public official.
source-www.mysanantonio.com