SAN ANTONIO – Recently released body camera footage provides a detailed look at the events leading up to a shooting involving a San Antonio police officer and an 18-year-old man last month. The incident occurred on September 1, near Old Highway 90 and West Commerce Street, during a traffic stop initiated by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) around 10:45 p.m.
The footage shows a patrol unit tailing a vehicle with two individuals inside. Joe Anthony Guzman was seated in the passenger seat when the driver pulled over near Buena Vista Street and South San Gabriel Avenue. The video captures Guzman exiting the vehicle and running away from the police, leaving the driver behind.
As one officer approached the driver, gunshots were heard in the direction where Guzman fled. According to SAPD, Officer Alexander Suttles, who has been with the department for seven years, fired at Guzman. However, the officer’s perspective was not caught on camera.
“The cover officer was unable to activate his body-worn camera,” explained Capt. Justin Tidwell, who narrated the shooting details in a YouTube video. Tidwell noted that Suttles initially tried to take Guzman into custody, but a struggle ensued between them.
“The officer reported that the suspect had a gun and was reaching for the gun,” said SAPD Chief Jesse Salame on the night of the incident.
After being shot, Guzman ran to nearby bushes in the 5300 block of Monterey Street, where he was ultimately taken into custody.
Joe Anthony Guzman, 18. (Bexar County Adult Detention Center)
Bexar County court records indicate that Guzman was charged with first-degree aggravated assault against a peace officer. He was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on September 2, with a bond set at $100,000, and he was released 10 days later.
Following the incident, Officer Suttles was placed on administrative duty. The SAPD Shooting Team and the Internal Affairs Unit are currently investigating the shooting to determine the circumstances surrounding the event.
