2014-10-03 Bravo
Saulo Bravo Evidence Tampering Case
Saulo Bravo, a former Amarillo Police Department officer, was indicted by a Potter County grand jury on felony charges related to tampering with evidence and government records in connection with an August 2014 incident. The charges were later dismissed due to procedural issues in the investigation.[1]
Background Incident
On August 24, 2014, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Bravo and fellow officer Marcus Bettag approached a home on the 1600 block of North Arapahoe Street in Amarillo. The officers were not in uniform and were driving an unmarked vehicle. According to police, they acted on a tip from another officer and entered the unfenced backyard of the home without clearing the action with their supervisor first.
The homeowner fired two shots at the officers with a handgun. The officers did not return fire and subsequently identified themselves as police. No one was injured in theincident.
Evidence Tampering Allegations
Court documents allege that on the day of the shooting, Bravo concealed an affidavit that was to be used as evidence in a pending investigation. He also allegedly destroyed a supplement to a police report and made changes to the original report, according to indictments filed in September 2014.
Bravo was indicted on two counts:
- Tampering with physical evidence (third-degree felony)
- Tampering with a government record (misdemeanor)
Internal Investigation and Termination
The Amarillo Police Department conducted an internal affairs investigation into the incident. Bravo was placed on administrative leave and later fired on September 26, 2014, following the internal investigation, which found the officers may have violated the law. Bravo was terminated specifically for untruthfulness, a decision he appealed.
According to internal investigation results released in March 2015, five officers were disciplined in connection with the incident:
- Saulo Bravo – Terminated for untruthfulness (appealed)
- Sgt. Douglass (now retired) – Suspended for two days and transferred to the detective division
- Cpl. Anthony Kennedy – Suspended for one day (appealed)
- Sgt. Louis Sanchez – Suspended for two days and transferred to the detective divisio
- Officer Marcus Bettag – Suspended for three days
Dismissal of Criminal Charges
In March 2015, the 47th District Attorney announced that charges against Bravo would be dismissed due to "commingling of evidence" in the internal and criminal investigations. Statements obtained for the purpose of an internal employment investigation were inappropriately included in the criminal case presented to the District Attorney. Under Texas law, these particular internal statements cannot be used interchangeably in criminal proceedings, preventing the prosecution from proceeding.
The Amarillo Police Department conducted an internal review of the investigation following the dismissal, and Police Chief Robert Taylor appointed a committee of legal and police personnel to assist in the review.
Additional Context
The internal investigation was conducted by investigator Dunn, who uncovered improprieties in the handling of reports and evidence that led to further criminal investigations into Bravo and Douglass. All evidence compiled by Dunn was presented to the District Attorney.
Police Chief Robert Taylor and Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee declined to comment on the case at the time, citing department policy. Police did not disclose whether Bravo's partner, Bettag, faced additional discipline beyond the internal suspension.