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Records: BCSO deputy had woman at gunpoint at scene where sergeant collapsed, later died

Sgt. Timothy Williams died Aug. 24, had worked for BCSO since 1991

A Bexar County sheriff's deputy suffered a medical emergency during a traffic stop on the North Side early Saturday morning. (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIOUPDATE - This article has been updated to include details from BCSO’s incident report, released Thursday afternoon.

A Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy held a woman at gunpoint next to a damaged car last month as a sergeant with the agency laid on the ground gasping for air, according to a San Antonio police information report obtained by KSAT Investigates.

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The sergeant was taken to a hospital and died a week later.

The SAPD report provided the first detailed accounting of the events surrounding the death of Sgt. Timothy Williams, a 32-year veteran of BCSO.

BCSO officials had released limited information during the nearly three weeks since the Aug. 17 incident near Stone Oak Parkway and Canyon Golf Road, before finally providing an incident report Thursday afternoon after KSAT published details provided by SAPD.

Williams got on the county radio around 1:45 a.m. stating he needed help, the BCSO incident report states.

A deputy who responded to the distress call wrote that he arrived on scene to find Williams on his back, non-responsive, and a woman sitting in a vehicle facing Williams with her feet sticking out of the driver’s side door.

The woman, who was described in the BCSO report as intoxicated, did not follow verbal commands, forcing the deputy to point his weapon at her, the report states.

Prior to Thursday, BCSO officials had stated only that Williams and a motorist had a “verbal encounter” after the motorist pulled behind him and that he suffered a medical episode.

Deputy, SAPD officer attempted life-saving measures at the scene

An SAPD patrol officer was also dispatched to the scene for an officer in trouble call around 1:45 a.m.

At the scene, the officer noted that a deputy had the woman at gunpoint next to a vehicle with damage to its back bumper, SAPD records show.

Williams was on his back and was not verbally responsive, the SAPD report states.

The officer and a deputy at the scene attempted life-saving measures on Williams until San Antonio Fire Department paramedics arrived, according to the report.

Once detained, the woman told deputies Williams walked up to her car due to it looking suspicious and then stated for her to call 911 because he needed help.

The woman told deputies she thought it was part of a prank and that was the reason she had not called for help, the BCSO report states.

She was placed in the back of a patrol vehicle but began to kick the door and yell to be released, according to the BCSO report.

Since no foul play was suspected, the woman was released after being questioned and allowed to get a ride home from the scene, the BCSO report states.

Williams was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, BCSO officials previously said.

Williams died a week later on Aug. 24.

Williams did not receive burial honors, at the request of his family, the spokesman previously told KSAT.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County posted a tribute to Williams on social media, noting that he was a full body donor.

Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.


About the Authors

Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016. Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News. Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year.

Rocky Garza Jr. is a Content Gatherer at KSAT-12 News.

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