ZEKEE RAYFORD

In a text message sent to Willborn Martinez wrote that he felt horrible about the mistake. “I promise you that’s not the normal,” wrote Martinez, according to internal affairs records. Ad“In my professional experience, this is not an uncommon practice for officers preparing a search warrant by including some paragraphs or statements recycled from a previous warrant,” wrote Schertz Police Captain Manny Casas. Like anything else, if proper proofreading protocols are not followed, unfortunate errors may occur,” wrote Schertz Director of Public Affairs Linda Klepper. Likening the execution of a search warrant to a press release insults citizens’ intelligence.

SAN ANTONIO – Three Schertz police officers involved in the arrest of Zekee Rayford, who was tackled and tased by officers on Nov. 2 in front of his home, will not face suspensions following the conclusion of an internal investigation. The officers have been removed from patrol duty since mid-November. Rayford was initially charged with possession of marijuana, evading arrest with a vehicle, evading arrest and resisting arrest, Guadalupe County records show. An investigation showed one of the officers, Chavarria, had a history of disciplinary problems at multiple other law enforcement agencies that employed him. Also, in March, Schertz police detective Chris Martinez used false information while writing a search warrant used to raid Rayford’s home.

To date, the Defenders have done more than 50 stories detailing failures and possible lawbreaking during Barrientes Vela’s time in office. It was the third time in two years that McManus gave information on fatal shootings by SAPD officers that was later refuted. The suspect SAPD officers were actually looking for, Darren Smith Jr., has never been charged for the domestic violence incident. This June 2020 investigation took a look at a little-known practice of cities charging drivers involved in accidents fees for the response by fire departments. Following this Defenders investigation, the deputies involved in the incident were placed on administrative duty.

Schertz police officers executed the search warrant March 16, hours after Martinez was able to get the affidavit signed by a judge. Schertz officials have not said what, if any, evidence was seized during the raid, but did confirm no charges would be filed because of Martinez’s error. Schertz officials for months had been led to believe the false information about drugs being seen inside the home was included because of a clerical copy-and-paste error by Martinez. What we do and don’t know about Zekee Rayford’s arrest by Schertz policeBody camera footage of Zekee Rayford's arrest was released by the City of Schertz. Prosecutors drop marijuana charge against Zekee Rayford due to improper search

The teen is charged with evading arrest, evading arrest with a vehicle and resisting arrest. Chavarria had only been on the Schertz police force for one month at the time of Rayford’s arrest. “He allowed the arrestee to make the stop into a debate on each other’s actions,” the sergeant wrote. After being denied consent to search the vehicle, Chavarria received a verbal warning for the speeding violation. The three officers involved in Rayford’s arrest have been removed from patrol duty pending the outcome of the internal investigation.

SCHERTZ, Texas – After initially declining open records requests for body camera footage of Zekee Rayford’s arrest, the City of Schertz released multiple videos of the incident on Wednesday evening. When Kevin Rayford, Zekee Rayford’s father, answered the door, he was visibly upset with police, repeatedly asking why they used the stun gun on his son. Eventually, officers Chavarria and Fennesy took Zekee Rayford down the street to get checked out by medics, the body cam footage showed. Y’all didn’t have to tase me,” Zekee Rayford said. Fennesy told Zekee Rayford to exit the car so he can get checked by medics.

Rayford was charged with evading arrest, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana, Guadalupe County Jail records show. The case received attention after the Rayford family shared out the footage caught by their multiple surveillance cameras. What we know about the officers involvedTwo days after the arrest, Schertz police issued a short press release acknowledging Rayford’s arrest. One of Rayford’s attorneys, Daryl Washington, said that one of the officers involved in Rayford’s arrest may have a “checkered past” that they are looking into. City leaders have been largely silent about the caseAfter Rayford’s arrest, the family went to a Schertz city council meeting to demand justice.

‘I was fearing for my life:’ Teen speaks out after Schertz police arrest caught on cameraPublished: November 16, 2020, 5:17 pmZekee Rayford’s family and attorneys held a press conference Monday, two weeks after he was arrested in front of his home.

Zekee Rayford’s family and attorneys held a press conference Monday, two weeks after he was arrested in front of his home. On Nov. 2, police said they attempted to stop Rayford after he drove through a red light off Schertz Parkway. The front door opens as police, still struggling with the suspect, tell Rayford’s family that he was being arrested for running from them. The attorneys say the charges have been filed in court in Guadalupe County, though Zekee Rayford has not been indicted yet. Guadalupe County records show Zekee Rayford also has other pending marijuana cases in unrelated incidents.

The Schertz police officers at the center of an internal investigation after their use of force on an 18-year-old man are no longer assigned to patrol duty, officials told KSAT on Thursday. It’s unclear when the officers were removed from patrol duty, though it is standard for the officers to be reassigned pending the internal investigation. Police said they attempted to stop Rayford after he drove through a red light off Schertz Parkway Nov. 2. The front door opens as police, still struggling with the suspect, tell Rayford’s family that he was being arrested for running from them. Rayford’s family has called for justice and even gathered at a Schertz city council meeting on Tuesday to get answers.

SCHERTZ, Texas – The family of Zekee Rayford is demanding justice after they say Schertz police officers mishandled his arrest earlier this month. Rayford’s arrest, and how it was handled, was all caught on his family’s security camera system. The family says the video shows misuse of force by the acting officers and has since hired a legal team. Gabrielle Gonzales, one of Rayford’s supporters, said she questions how many more instances like this would have to happen for change to occur. Related: Schertz family alleges misuse of police force during teen’s arrest

SCHERTZ, Texas – A Schertz family is demanding answers after their home security system captured video of Schertz police tackling and hitting an 18-year-old relative during an arrest at his family’s doorstep off Keanna Place. A video, released to the KSAT Defenders by Zekee Rayford’s family, shows Rayford screaming for his father inside their home as police arrested him. The home security footage first shows Rayford standing in his driveway with his hands in the air as police point their service guns at him. In the video, police can be heard telling Rayford that he was under arrest and to stop resisting. Read the full statement from Schertz PD below: