{"id":135537,"date":"2025-08-10T23:35:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T23:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/135537\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T23:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T23:35:09","slug":"sapd-releases-video-of-councilwoman-ivalis-meza-gonzalezs-arrest-on-suspicion-of-dwi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/135537\/","title":{"rendered":"SAPD releases video of Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez\u2019s arrest on suspicion of DWI"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 The San Antonio Police Department on Friday released footage of the arrest of District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, two weeks after she was pulled over and taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.<\/p>\n

In the video, which is nearly 19 minutes long, Gonzalez denied that she had been drinking at least eight times. <\/p>\n

KSAT Investigates<\/p>\n

Hard-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates team delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez was pulled over at approximately 11 p.m. on July 24 along Interstate 10 after leaving a downtown club, according to a blood draw warrant.<\/p>\n

An SAPD officer initiated a traffic stop on Gonzalez\u2019s vehicle after she was seen driving at a slower speed than other vehicles and failed to remain in a single lane along I-10 at Hildebrand Avenue, records previously obtained by KSAT and the body camera video show.<\/p>\n

In the footage, Gonzalez described the directions \u2014 and the names of streets \u2014 to and near her home multiple times to the officer. KSAT has removed audio of Gonzalez naming those specific streets from SAPD\u2019s body camera video. <\/p>\n

When the officer asked Gonzalez if she had been drinking, the footage shows her telling the officer, \u201cI\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m perfectly fine,\u201d Gonzalez told the officer. \u201cI apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n

At approximately the 2:15 mark in the video, Gonzalez was then asked to exit the vehicle. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez told the officer she just left the Centre Club, a downtown establishment located in the 100 block of East Pecan Street. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to make sure that you\u2019re OK to drive,\u201d a responding SAPD officer told Gonzalez at the 4:28 mark in the video. \u201cIf you\u2019re OK, I\u2019ll get you out of here, OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI really am perfectly fine to drive,\u201d Gonzalez told the officer. \u201cI apologize for making you stop.\u201d <\/p>\n

At the 4:45 mark of the footage, the councilwoman was then asked to perform a series of sobriety tests.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez\u2019s first sobriety test <\/p>\n

In the first sobriety test, she was asked to follow a green light in the officer\u2019s hand with her eyes and without moving her head.<\/p>\n

According to the footage, Gonzalez followed the green light with her eyes, but she also slightly turned her head at least two times. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep your head still, OK?\u201d the officer told Gonzalez at the 5:04 mark in the video. Gonzalez then nodded in agreement. <\/p>\n

The councilwoman then turned her head at least one additional time and then briefly scratched her face. <\/p>\n

\u201cTry to keep your head still, OK?\u201d the officer said to Gonzalez at the 5:30 mark of the video. \u201cAlmost done.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Gonzalez said to the officer. <\/p>\n

The first test concluded just before the 7:00 mark of SAPD\u2019s body camera footage. The officer then asked Gonzalez if she had any issues walking or standing by herself. <\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all,\u201d Gonzalez told the officer. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, if I were ask you to walk in a straight line, do you feel like you could do that safely?\u201d the officer asked Gonzalez. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Absolutely,\u201d Gonzalez responded. <\/p>\n

The officer then asked Gonzalez to stay put while he went back to his patrol vehicle before the beginning of her second sobriety test. <\/p>\n

However, before he went back to the SAPD vehicle, the officer asked Gonzalez if she was OK. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Gonzalez said at the 7:27 mark in SAPD\u2019s body camera video. <\/p>\n

\u201cOK because you\u2019ve been stumbling a little bit,\u201d the officer said to Gonzalez. <\/p>\n

The councilwoman then quickly told the SAPD officer \u201cno\u201d multiple times. <\/p>\n

The officer went back to the vehicle and then returned to Gonzalez, who stood on a sidewalk. <\/p>\n

\u2018Why are we doing this?\u2019<\/p>\n

At the 8:45 mark in the video, the officer introduced the second sobriety test to Gonzalez. He asked Gonzalez to take nine \u201cheel-to-toe\u201d steps toward the front of the officer\u2019s vehicle, turn around and take nine additional \u201cheel-to-toe\u201d steps in the opposite direction. <\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to imagine a straight line from you to the front of my license plate, OK?\u201d the officer told Gonzalez. \u201cYou got that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n

As a part of the officer\u2019s three-step demonstration, he showed Gonzalez by putting his foot on the imaginary line, put his right foot in front of his left foot and moved each foot from heel-to-toe. <\/p>\n

After Gonzalez was reminded that she would take nine steps instead of three, she was asked if she had any questions before starting the second test. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Gonzalez said at the 11:15 mark in the police body camera video. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you understand my instructions?\u201d the officer asked. \u201cI\u2019m not trying to be, like, funny or anything like that. I\u2019m just trying to make sure you understand before you start.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI understand them,\u201d Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n

The officer again asked the councilwoman if she had any more questions. <\/p>\n

\u201cUm, I guess my questions are (sic), \u2018Why are we doing this?\u2019\u201d Gonzalez asked the officer. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo make sure that you\u2019re safe to operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway,\u201d the officer responded, according to the video. \u201cThat\u2019s it. OK?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve already articulated that I am,\u201d Gonzalez told the officer at the 11:31 mark of the footage. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, just because you\u2019ve articulated that doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t have probable cause to argue against that,\u201d the officer told Gonzalez in the video, in part. <\/p>\n

Second sobriety test begins<\/p>\n

The responding officer first asked Gonzalez to one step backward. According to video at the 11:48 mark, however, the officer noted that the councilwoman took one step forward. <\/p>\n

The officer then gave Gonzalez permission to begin the nine-step \u201cheel-to-toe\u201d sobriety test at the 12:06 mark of the SAPD video. <\/p>\n

The first-time councilwoman was seen on the body camera video taking 14 steps. <\/p>\n

When she arrived near the front of the police vehicle, Gonzalez froze. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember the test or the instructions?\u201d the officer asked Gonzalez as he began to walk closer to her. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez then turned around and faced the opposite direction. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust like I instructed to you. OK?\u201d the officer said to Gonzalez. <\/p>\n

After she made 21 steps in the opposite direction, 12 more than she was asked to make, the responding officer spoke up before Gonzalez completed her 22nd step. <\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am, do you remember how many steps I asked you to take?\u201d the officer asked Gonzalez. <\/p>\n

\u201cNine?\u201d Gonzalez said at the 13:44 mark of the body camera footage. <\/p>\n

\u201cOK. Do you know how many you took right now?\u201d the officer asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cProbably more?\u201d Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know?\u201d the SAPD officer asked her. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t count. I\u2019m not gonna lie,\u201d Gonzalez said. \u201cProbably nine?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think you took probably about nine?\u201d the officer asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Gonzalez told the officer. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez\u2019s third sobriety test <\/p>\n

At the 14:00 mark of San Antonio police\u2019s body camera video, the officer asked Gonzalez to stand still on a sidewalk with her feet together and her arms at her side. <\/p>\n

For this sobriety test, the officer instructed Gonzalez to take one leg, lift it and keep it airborne for 30 seconds while also keeping the leg approximately six inches off the ground at all times. <\/p>\n

According to the 16:00 mark in the footage, Gonzalez began the test. She lifted her right foot, but Gonzalez set that foot down on the ground at least three times within the first 15 seconds. <\/p>\n

After Gonzalez moved her right foot next to her left foot, the officer told her to \u201ckeep going.\u201d <\/p>\n

She dropped her right foot on the ground at least two more times before the officer ended the test. <\/p>\n

Fourth test and arrest <\/p>\n

The responding officer then asked Gonzalez to walk toward the bumper of his police vehicle when he administered a second test with the green light, her fourth sobriety test overall. <\/p>\n

Following the test, the SAPD officer asked Gonzalez two more times if she had any alcohol to drink that night. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez, again, told the officer that she didn\u2019t have any drinks. <\/p>\n

The body camera video ends with the officer asking Gonzalez to turn around before he placed her under arrest. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez\u2019s new statement before traffic stop video emerges<\/p>\n

Ahead of SAPD\u2019s body camera footage release on Friday, the councilwoman acknowledged some \u201cregret\u201d from the incident. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe video does not find me at my finest moment,\u201d Gonzalez\u2019s Aug. 8 statement read, in part. \u201cI regret not being more forthcoming with the officer. I was overwhelmed \u2014 nervous, embarrassed, and, to be frank, afraid.”<\/p>\n

The councilwoman was booked on a misdemeanor charge of DWI, before she was released on bond July 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, I was pulled over on suspicion of a DUI (DWI). I know as a public servant, we are held to a higher standard, and I failed to meet that standard,\u201d Gonzalez said on July 25, while walking out of jail. \u201cI\u2019m deeply regretful at the disappointment I\u2019ve caused my constituents, my family and my colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Gonzalez publicly acknowledged a 2010 arrest for DWI<\/a>. In a written statement, she said she was acquitted by a jury and had the record expunged, \u201cas is the right of anyone who is actually innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gonzalez avoids censure thus far<\/p>\n

Gonzalez is the third San Antonio City Council member arrested for driving while intoxicated in the past three years.<\/p>\n

On Nov. 6, 2022, then-District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry<\/a> was arrested after San Antonio Police investigators said Perry drank 14 drinks in a four-hour period <\/a>at a North Side bar, drove into another car at an intersection, fled the scene and was later found in his backyard.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 29, 2023, current District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte was pulled over<\/a> after San Antonio police said he was speeding on Northeast Loop 410 and didn\u2019t properly signal a lane change.<\/p>\n

While both Perry and Whyte were reprimanded by their fellow councilmembers, Gonzalez, so far, has avoided similar scrutiny from her peers on council.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully, she is safe. Thankfully, nobody was injured and she\u2019s going through the legal process and she should be afforded that,\u201d said Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones during a Tuesday appearance on KSAT Q&A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jones said she has not ruled out a possible censure, which is akin to a public reprimand, for Gonzalez, but city leaders are waiting for additional information about the arrest.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, KSAT Investigates revealed emails from top Bexar County officials<\/a> pushing back on Jones\u2019 claim via email that footage of Gonzalez in shackles being magistrated by a judge was \u201cleaked\u201d video.<\/p>\n

Jones told KSAT she emailed county leadership after senior city staff, including SAPD Chief William McManus, \u201chad never seen that kind of footage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Mayor Jones: I am in receipt of your email from Friday evening. In regards to your email, I must object to your reference to a \u2018leaked video\u2019. It is my understanding that the magistrate court that I assume that you are referencing to is first a public courtroom pursuant to statutory and constitutional laws of the State of Texas and second it is standard operation rule that all proceedings of the magistrate court is live streamed and thus, accessible to the public,\u201d wrote Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, who CC\u2019d county leadership and designated Judge Ron Rangel, the county\u2019s administrative judge, to respond with specific laws regarding public access to courts in Texas.<\/p>\n

In a lengthy response to Jones sent via email Monday, Rangel said this was the first complaint the county had received about the live feed.<\/p>\n

The judge then provided several prior court cases that guarantee the public\u2019s right to view criminal proceedings.<\/p>\n

Jones, during her KSAT Q&A appearance Tuesday night on the 6 O\u2019Clock News, said that even though her and other city leaders were told the county has livestreamed magistration proceedings since 2020, the county has only consistently used the stream over the past two months.<\/p>\n

KSAT Investigates has monitored the stream and used footage gathered from it<\/a> in stories for years. <\/p>\n

Gonzalez said Friday she intends to be \u201caccountable\u201d for her actions on July 24. <\/p>\n

\u201cI understand that leadership isn\u2019t about being perfect but about being accountable and growing from challenges,\u201d Gonzalez\u2019s statement continued. \u201cI intend to take full accountability for my actions and will work hard every day to represent my constituents as the process moves forward in the justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More recent Ivalis Meza Gonzalez coverage on KSAT: <\/b><\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN ANTONIO \u2013 The San Antonio Police Department on Friday released footage of the arrest of District 8…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":135538,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5133],"tags":[5229,13239,7452,63230,31872,7202,7203,7725,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-135537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-antonio","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-city-hall","10":"tag-gina-ortiz-jones","11":"tag-ivalis-meza-gonzalez","12":"tag-ksat-investigates","13":"tag-san-antonio","14":"tag-sanantonio","15":"tag-sapd","16":"tag-texas","17":"tag-tx","18":"tag-united-states","19":"tag-united-states-of-america","20":"tag-unitedstates","21":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","22":"tag-us","23":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115007096460259294","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}