SAPD Officer fired for punching pregnant woman can rejoin SAPD, arbiter decides

Incident: Elizabeth Montoya, an SAPD officer, was captured on body-worn camera in July 2018 brutalizing a handcuffed pregnant woman during an arrest. Montoya was assisting in the arrest of 24-year-old Kimberly Esparza, who was six months pregnant, on a drug-related charge just west of downtown. While Esparza was handcuffed and being placed in a patrol car, she apparently struggled or kicked at Montoya. In response, Officer Montoya delivered a flurry of blows – striking the restrained, pregnant suspect at least eight times (once in the torso and seven times in the head)​

. Esparza was then left lying on the ground in the rain for over 20 minutes afterward, according to internal documents​

. The violent encounter, which was recorded by two officers’ cameras, showed clear excessive force against a vulnerable, restrained suspect.

Outcome: Montoya was indefinitely suspended (fired) by Chief McManus in early 2019 once the incident came to light and the video was reviewed​

. She was charged by the department with excessive force and violation of policy (though no criminal assault charge was filed against her at that time). Montoya appealed her firing. While her arbitration was pending, she found work as a reserve officer: by mid-2020 she had been hired by Leon Valley’s Police Department (and later by Elmendorf PD) in a reserve capacity, which allowed her to keep her Texas peace officer license active​

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. In Leon Valley, the chief controversially said he viewed the video and felt Montoya used proper escalation and only punched the suspect after being assaulted herself​

. Montoya’s arbitration case extended into late 2021 and early 2022​

. Ultimately, it appears she did not regain her job at SAPD (her appeal was still underway as of Jan 2022​

, and she remained a reserve elsewhere). Montoya’s case drew public ire as a stark example of police brutality; SAPD officials noted her behavior “dishonors the badge.” Esparza, the victim, survived and later filed a federal lawsuit against the city (settlement details, if any, were not public at the time). Montoya’s firing stands, and as of 2025 she is no longer with San Antonio PD, though she briefly continued in law enforcement through smaller agencies.

## Officer Forum Links:
– [Officer Elizabeth Montoya](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/officer-elizabeth-montoya/)

• Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e45o7OTzoGk

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