Harris County deputy arrested in hit-and-run probe, placed on leave

A Harris County Precinct 3 deputy’s arrest in Seguin has put public confidence in local law enforcement under a bright light, after officials said Julio Valadez was taken into custody while armed and later placed on unpaid leave.

Guadalupe County authorities said the incident was reported around 6 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2026, in the 8500 block of Interstate 10 East. Deputies responded after hearing radio traffic about a hit-and-run at the same location, then encountered Valadez, who was a passenger in the vehicle suspected in the crash.

Investigators said Valadez smelled strongly of alcohol and had difficulty maintaining his balance. They also said he identified himself as a police officer during the arrest. Deputies disarmed him at the scene, and he was taken into custody without incident before being booked into the Guadalupe County Jail.

Valadez now faces charges of public intoxication and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Under Texas law, public intoxication applies when a person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that they may endanger themselves or someone else. State law also restricts carrying a handgun while intoxicated.

Harris County Precinct 3 said Valadez has worked for the office since September 2024 and has no disciplinary history. The office said he was placed on administrative leave without pay pending an internal affairs investigation, a step that leaves his employment status intact for now while the criminal case moves forward in Guadalupe County.

Guadalupe County Sheriff Joshua Ray said his office holds everyone to the same standard, regardless of profession or affiliation. His message carried particular weight in a case involving a sworn deputy, where the central question now is not only what happened on Interstate 10 East, but what Harris County does next when one of its own is arrested while carrying a firearm and suspected of being intoxicated.