SAN ANTONIO – A former San Antonio Police officer was arrested Wednesday for allegedly altering records in the department’s internal affairs system following the shooting death of Melissa Perez.
Steven Velasquez, who was fired from the department, was charged with tampering with governmental records with intent to defraud or harm. He turned himself in and was subsequently released on a $7,500 bond.
Authorities allege that Velasquez made unauthorized changes in the department’s internal system, known as Blue Team, which is used to document complaints and internal investigations. The alterations are under investigation as part of a broader review of the circumstances surrounding Perez’s death.
Three officers – Eleazar Alejandro, Alfredo Flores and Nathanial Villalobos – are charged with the death of Melissa Perez.
Flores and Villalobos are charged with murder, while Alejandro is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The trio are accused of opening fire, killing Perez back in June of 2023, at an apartment complex off Old Pearsall Road.
The officers say Perez came at them with a hammer.
At the time, Police Chief William McManus said Perez was having a mental health crisis, and that the officers didn’t follow protocol.
Police released officer body cam video of the critical incident revealing what happened.