Pubdate: Fri, 30 Mar 2001
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Karisa King

FAMILY CONFIRMS OFFICER IN FED VIDEO

Wearing his police blues and a service-issue Glock at his waist, a relaxed 
and smooth-talking man identified by the FBI as San Antonio patrolman David 
Anthony Morales told an agent posing as a drug smuggler that he didn't 
trust his fellow officers.

According to the FBI surveillance videos played by prosecutors in court at 
Morales' bond hearing Thursday, the man on the video was none too shy about 
his role in the sham drug smuggling operation.

At one point, authorities allege that Morales appears in the videos as he 
coaches the undercover agent on the finer points of renting a stash house. 
During cross-examination, Morales' father, father-in-law and wife 
identified the man in the videos as Morales.

"OK, you rent the place, you furnish it, you put TV, you don't even have to 
put cable," the man is heard telling the agent who posed as a cocaine 
trafficker. "I got a DVD player in there. Also, I would like to have you 
guys purchase me an automatic weapon."

For the officer's father, Frank Morales, it appeared as a startling glance 
at a side of the man he did not know.

"I was shocked and surprised when I saw it," the 70-year-old Morales said 
on the witness stand. "He couldn't even shoot a deer. I think he was just 
talking."

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo said he was troubled by the task of 
reconciling the image of the cocky gunslinger in the videos with the loving 
husband and dedicated officer described by his family. In the end, however, 
the judge set Morales' bond at $100,000 -- the same amount he set for five 
other SAPD officers accused in the sting.

"The talk (on the video) is extremely serious in this case. However, my 
inclination is that this was talking out of his character," Primomo said.

Less than three hours later, Morales emerged from the courthouse in 
sandals, arm-in-arm with his wife, after posting bond. They shunned 
questions and cameras.

He was the last of eight area law officers to be released on bond since a 
dozen arrests last week in a massive corruption scandal that has repelled 
the rank and file and cast the largest shadow over the department in decades.

As part of an ongoing purge, Police Chief Al Philippus placed patrolman 
Alfred Valdes, also accused in the sting, on temporary suspension without 
pay during a small, 10-minute meeting Thursday.

Philippus continued legal research into how to serve similar papers to Sgt. 
Conrad Fragozo and officer Patrick Bowron, who were denied bond after 
prosecutors dubbed them ringleaders.

Two other accused officers, Arthur Gutierrez and Peter Saenz, have quit. 
They are out on bond.

On Wednesday, Philippus suspended accused officers Manuel Cedillo and 
Lawrence Bustos without pay. Morales' attorney, Van Hilley, said the 
officer anticipates Philippus will soon summon him to police headquarters 
for the same purpose.

At the center of the government's case is a conspiracy among five police 
patrol officers, a police sergeant and his civilian uncle.

Although prosecutors do not link Morales to that conspiracy, they contend 
he worked closely with the same undercover agent known as "Ricardo," who 
arranged for the officers to protect drug shipments, said Daryl Fields, 
spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office here.

Among those whose testimony helped sway the release of Morales on Thursday 
was his wife, Lori, who also is a police officer. She said the man she saw 
in the videos was an aberration.

"I wish I could just take my heart out and show everybody everything that I 
know about him," she said.
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