Police Officer ARRESTED Stalking Ex—Pipe Wrench Ambush

A suspended San Antonio police officer turned his law enforcement training into tools of terror, stalking and threatening his ex-girlfriend for over a year before facing arrest for the second time—raising alarming questions about who polices the police when they become predators.

Story Highlights

Suspended SAPD officer Humberto Zuniga Jr. arrested for stalking ex-girlfriend over 14 months, including hiding behind her car with a pipe wrench
Police responded to 34 separate calls for service at victim’s home for harassment, threats, and family disturbances
Zuniga assaulted victim’s sister and attempted to forcibly remove their daughter from school, leveraging police tactics to intimidate
Case exemplifies growing national pattern of law enforcement officers exploiting their training to abuse ex-partners with minimal accountability

Pattern of Escalating Violence and Intimidation

Humberto Zuniga Jr., a 47-year-old suspended San Antonio Police Department officer, was arrested December 3, 2025, for stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend in a campaign of terror that began in March 2024. The victim documented repeated threatening phone calls, intoxicated confrontations, and door-slamming incidents at her home. Zuniga followed her to the Medical Center area on November 19, 2025, where she discovered him hiding behind her vehicle clutching a pipe wrench, escalating from psychological harassment to potential physical violence. His behavior required 34 separate SAPD service calls to the victim’s residence for family disturbances, harassment complaints, and welfare checks.

Abuse of Police Training and Authority

Zuniga’s law enforcement background gave him a dangerous advantage over his civilian victim, enabling sophisticated surveillance and intimidation tactics unavailable to typical domestic abusers. He assaulted the victim’s sister in March 2024 and attempted to forcibly remove their shared daughter from the victim’s vehicle at a Northside Independent School District location, prompting school police intervention. The victim provided investigators with extensive evidence including cellphone records, photographs, and videos documenting Zuniga’s threats and harassment. This marks Zuniga’s second arrest, with his indefinite SAPD suspension predating these charges and suggesting prior professional misconduct that should have triggered closer scrutiny.

Department Accountability Failures Endanger Communities

The San Antonio Police Department’s handling of Zuniga’s case underscores systemic failures in policing officers who become domestic abusers. Despite being suspended indefinitely before this arrest, Zuniga remained free to terrorize his ex-girlfriend for over a year while investigators compiled evidence. He was released on bond immediately after his December 3 arrest, leaving the victim vulnerable to retaliation. This pattern mirrors national trends where law enforcement officers accused of domestic violence receive preferential treatment from colleagues reluctant to hold their own accountable. Similar cases nationwide include an Orlando officer arrested for stalking threats and a Salt Lake officer charged with felony stalking, revealing an epidemic of cop-perpetrated domestic abuse.

Broader Implications for Law Enforcement Credibility

Zuniga’s case erodes public trust in law enforcement at a time when communities need confidence that officers will protect rather than prey upon vulnerable citizens. The involvement of multiple agencies—SAPD, Northside ISD police, and prosecutors—demonstrates the resources required to address officer misconduct while ordinary citizens face such threats with minimal protection. Precedents like an ex-cop sentenced to 19 years for repeated stalking after probation revocation highlight the recidivism risks when departments fail to swiftly terminate and prosecute abusive officers. The San Antonio community deserves answers about why Zuniga’s suspension didn’t prevent continued access to his victim and whether systemic reforms will prevent future tragedies where those sworn to serve and protect instead stalk and terrorize.