SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Police officer Matthew Belver is back in court today, fighting to overturn an indefinite suspension that has followed him for nearly a decade.
Belver was placed on indefinite suspension by Chief William McManus in 2016 after he was accused of challenging a prisoner to a fight for his freedom and mishandling evidence at a crime scene.
The case stemmed from Belver’s arrest of suspect Eloy Leal on charges of interfering with the duties of a public servant during a shooting investigation. When Leal became aggressive, Belver was caught on video offering to remove his handcuffs and fight him.
This was not the first time Belver faced discipline. In 2009, he was previously suspended for violating department policy. His 2016 termination was later reduced to a 45-day suspension, and an arbitrator ordered the city to reinstate him with back pay.
Today’s arbitration hearing begins at 9 a.m. and will continue daily until it is complete.