A Harris County detention officer has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly driving while intoxicated, crashing a pickup truck into a homeowner’s fence in the Humble area, and leaving the scene, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Gerardo Segundo, 21, who has worked for the sheriff’s office for three years, faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI), authorities said. He remains on leave pending court proceedings.
The crash happened around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, waking homeowner Alfonso Pineda and his family. More than a day later, pieces of the pickup truck were still scattered outside the property.
Surveillance Video Captures Crash Outside Humble-Area Home
Surveillance footage captured the truck’s headlights, the sound of its engine revving, and the impact as it struck Pineda’s fence.
Pineda told ABC13’s Eyewitness News that the noise grew louder before the crash.
“It was getting really close, really loud. When the tire kept spinning, like 30 seconds later we heard boom, the biggest boom we could have heard,” Pineda said.
When Pineda went outside, the driver was gone, but a truck bumper had been left behind.
“He thought he could get away,” Pineda said.
Deputies Trace Evidence to Damaged Pickup
According to court records, deputies with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office followed a trail of liquid from the crash site to a home a few streets away.
Investigators found a damaged pickup truck at the residence and brought it back to the scene to compare it with the vehicle parts left behind, court records said.
“Luckily, they got to the truck. They found the truck and got to the person,” Pineda told Eyewitness News.
ABC13 later reported that Segundo was not only a neighbor of Pineda’s but also a Harris County detention officer.
“I did not know that,” Pineda said. “It would have been way better for him if he would have just stayed.”
Court Records Describe Signs of Intoxication
According to court records, Segundo refused a field sobriety test but was still charged with DWI. The records noted bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of alcohol.
During a probable cause hearing, a magistrate also considered a separate allegation that Segundo intentionally damaged the fence.
The magistrate found insufficient evidence to establish probable cause for the criminal mischief allegation and dismissed that charge.
Segundo continues to face the misdemeanor DWI charge, according to the information provided.
Homeowner Estimates Fence Damage at $3,000
Pineda estimated the damage to his fence at approximately $3,000. He said he was relieved the truck did not strike a section of the wall just a few feet away, where he and his wife were sleeping.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Pineda said.
No one answered the door at Segundo’s home on Monday, and online records did not list an attorney representing him at the time of the report.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Segundo had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
The case remains centered on the pending DWI allegation, while the separate criminal mischief charge related to the fence was dismissed after the magistrate found insufficient probable cause.
