HOUSTON – After Channel 2 Investigates exposed a corrupt detective, he was fired from the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Now he's moved into a new job.
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Ruben Shawn Carrizal is teaching children at an area school. Galena Park ISD is all about excellence and pride in their Mustangs and Yellowjackets.
On the district's Facebook page, it showcases trophies and certificates touting students and educators, including their vocational program.
"North Shore 9th Grade Center has a new Criminal Justice Teacher, Mr. Carrizal! Mr. Carrizal is such a great teacher and his students enjoy his class," one post reads. "Mr. Carrizal is a former law enforcement officer that made his way to the 9th Grade Center to teach Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement as a CTE elective class. His students created a crime scene display for the hall based on what they have been studying in class."
This is the same Mr. Carrizal that was the lead detective in a case featured on a recent Dateline NBC episodes.
Sandra Melgar was found guilty of killing her husband and faking a home invasion.
Carrizal had become the center of a scandal. Carrizal got himself into serious trouble for falsifying a search warrant in a case not connected to Melgar's.
VIEW: Search warrant document
That cast a shadow on his other investigations.
Channel 2 Investigates got a copy of his personnel file.
VIEW: District Attorney Memo
Carrizal was recommended for termination from the District Attorney's office in 2014. But he was given, "The opportunity to resign in lieu of termination."
VIEW: District Attorney Resign in Lieu of Termination Memo
Days later he got a job as a Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide investigator.
But after less than a year, the sheriff fired Carrizal after learning he lied on his employment application -- failing to disclose he'd been under investigation while working for the DA.
VIEW: Harris County Sheriff Paperwork
Carrizal is now at the Galena Park ISD's ninth-grade center.
KPRC 2 retrieved his application for this job.
VIEW: Galena Park ISD application
On page five, "I want to start a new career as a teacher. My mother taught for Galena Park ISD for many years and I want to follow her footsteps."
But just a little lower down on the same page, there's a question that asks: "Been given the option to resign in lieu of termination?" The response on the application is "No."
KPRC 2 went to Carrizal's school to ask him about the documents, but no one wanted to go on camera.
Multiple times KPRC 2 asked the school district for an interview in reference to his employment and his application, but instead received this statement:
"We decline any on-camera interviews with district and/or campus personnel, and our district cannot provide any additional/further comments aside from the original statement we sent on your first request," Galena Park ISD said in a statement on March 8.
"Your request is regarding a personnel-related matter, and as such Galena Park ISD cannot provide any comments and/or statements," the district said in a statement Feb. 26.
In a statement sent Jan. 19, Galena Park ISD said:
"Galena Park ISD checks references and completes background checks on all applicants being considered for employment. The district confirms that a hiring review was completed at the time Mr. Carrizal applied for employment with the district in July 2017.
"In reviewing Mr. Carrizal's application and subsequent background and reference checks, our Human Resources personnel and campus administrators determined he met the eligibility and qualification standards for the position to which he was hired. His performance in the classroom to date also indicates he is capable of fulfilling the duties of a Law Enforcement teacher in our district.
"As we would with any employee, Galena Park ISD will review new information reported to our district and investigate allegations, as needed, to determine if further action is warranted regarding personnel."
