Cases tied to Houston police officer fired over racist video include murder, robbery and DWI
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston police officer who was fired after posting a racially charged and profanity-laced video on social media was involved in dozens of misdemeanor and felony cases, according to a review by ABC13.
This week, the Harris County District Attorney's Office confirmed it is issuing Brady notices in approximately 175 cases involving former officer Ashley Gonzalez. Seventy-five have been filed in pending cases. Another 100 are going out this week, the DA's office says.
The notices come after questions by 13 Investigates and alert defense attorneys to information that could be used to challenge an officer's credibility or conduct.
The DA's office provided a list of case numbers in which Gonzalez was involved. ABC13 found they range from DWI and family violence investigations to armed robberies and murders.
Gonzalez was sworn in in January 2024.
Among the pending cases is that of Michael Padilla, a 17-year-old charged with aggravated robbery in a Christmas Eve carjacking in southwest Houston. Court records allege Padilla used a firearm to rob three people before stealing a truck in the 6000 block of South Gessner Road.
Padilla's attorney, Jose Julio Vela Jr., said Gonzalez was involved in the investigation.
"Ms. Gonzalez actually interviewed some material witnesses," Vela said.
Vela said Gonzalez's conduct and the views expressed in her social media video are now relevant to his client's defense.
"He's very dark-skinned," Vela said of Padilla. "How could that not come into the mind of me, who's defending him? There might have been some bias. There might have been some foul play after seeing some of the despicable things that we saw on the internet from the mouth of Ashley Gonzalez."
In other cases, Gonzalez's involvement appears to have been more limited. Even so, Vela said defense attorneys will likely scrutinize her work.
"You're darn right I will," he said, adding that the consequences could extend beyond defendants.
"What she has unfortunately done is not only hurt the rights of those who are accused but also delayed justice or denied justice for those who require it," he said.
Gonzalez's attorney has not commented on the case.
