SAN ANTONIO – A Bexar County sheriff’s deputy is currently facing an investigation after being accused of trying to cover up a car accident involving a man, which was captured on video.
In the footage, a man named Zielinski is seen crossing a driveway when a Bexar County patrol unit approaches and collides with him. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) confirmed that Deputy Terrazas was involved in the incident but did not disclose further details due to an ongoing internal investigation.
Linda Coffman, Zielinski’s sister, expressed her concerns, stating, “He could have killed him.” She explained that her brother struggles with mental health issues and has difficulty taking care of himself. “He’s not homeless, but people often think that because of the way he looks,” Coffman added.
Coffman suspects that her brother’s appearance influenced the deputy’s actions after the incident. “He panicked, he took care of himself instead of taking care of a human being,” she remarked.
To address the situation, the family has hired attorney Chavo Pastrano, who sent a detailed nine-page letter to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar regarding the incident. In the letter, Pastrano emphasized that Zielinski was treated poorly, stating, “Mr. Zielinsky was treated like the least of us who would be forgotten.”
After reviewing the dash and body camera footage, Pastrano claimed it was evident that Terrazas caused the crash and subsequently attempted to conceal his responsibility. “Terrazas can be heard on dash cam video yelling, ‘Oh S—!’” wrote Pastrano.
Furthermore, Pastrano mentioned that Terrazas blamed Zielinski for the accident, accusing him of being intoxicated. Despite being a certified EMT, Terrazas allegedly chose to take Zielinski’s vitals rather than provide him with the necessary medical care for his injuries. Coffman highlighted the seriousness of the situation, saying, “Vital signs and a blood sugar check is not medical care. He fell on his head.”
After hearing he might be taken to detox, Zielinski reportedly left the scene. As of now, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has not filed any criminal charges against Terrazas, which Coffman believes is unjust. “If you want to hold the law and you want to promote the law and you want to be a police officer, then you have to do things the right way,” she stated.
Coffman also mentioned that her brother is currently being evaluated for a potential traumatic brain injury and is scheduled to undergo an MRI soon.
