The department said Officer Zachary Castanon was fired on Sunday after his arrest.
Searching for Castanon online, you'll find a May 25 social media post by the Oak Ridge North Police Department honoring former officer Zachary Castanon for arresting someone for a DWI. Just a year earlier, the department posted a picture of Castanon holding an award. The Facebook post says Castanon was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his dedication and determination to remove impaired drivers from Texas roads.
According to a statement from the City of Oak Ridge North, Castanon arrived for work on Sunday, where a co-worker noticed the smell of alcohol on him. The co-worker notified their boss, and the Department of Public Safety was contacted to arrest Castanon and investigate, according to the city.
According to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Castanon became an officer in 2021, then worked for the Conroe Police Department for a few months before joining Oak Ridge North PD.
Conroe Police said Castanon had no disciplinary issues and left after failing to meet training standards and requirements.
Eyewitness News also asked Oak Ridge North police if Castanon had any other disciplinary issues with their department. Police said Castanon was previously reprimanded for a crash he caused, and a urinalysis was completed, which came back clean.
Castanon bonded out of the Montgomery County jail on Tuesday morning. ABC13 went to his house, but the person who answered the door would not comment or put us in touch with Castanon.
Eyewitness News has reached out to the Montgomery County District Attorney's office to find out if any of the cases Castanon was involved in will be impacted. ABC13 is waiting to hear back.