HOUSTON – A former constable deputy with Harris County Precinct 4 has bonded out after being arrested for reportedly stealing thousands of dollars from multiple businesses across the area, according to court documents.
Bobby Espinosa has been charged with felony theft. He is accused of taking a total of $5,700 from four Vietnamese establishments.
The case was investigated by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, but members of Espinosa’s own department took their fellow officer into custody.
Court documents obtained by KPRC 2 say Espinosa, who was with Precinct 4 for seven and a half years, was dressed in uniform and operating his patrol unit when he would constantly harass businesses.
Investigators said the deputy would enter an establishment and make customers leave, then would unplug surveillance cameras and force employees to open up cash registers. He is also accused of prying open game machines to remove cash.
The scheme began in September 2021 and lasted through March of this year, documents revealed.
On Saturday, Espinosa faced a judge in probable cause court where he was released after posting a $30,000 bond. Prosecutors asked that he have no contact with the businesses he allegedly targeted.
KPRC 2 tried to speak to Espinosa immediately after he was released, but he covered his face while trying to dodge our news cameras.
He was scheduled to reappear in court on Monday morning, but that date has been rescheduled.
Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman released the following statement:
“Every one of us who puts on this uniform want to maintain the pride in our agency and our profession and we can only do that by fully investigating any allegations of wrong doing. These allegations against ex-deputy Bobby Espinosa are no different and are receiving the full attention of my office in collaboration with the Harris County Sheriff’s office.
“Once we were made aware of these allegations, my office, along with investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, worked together culminating in my office placing ex-deputy Bobby Espinosa into custody, and transferring him to the investigators. I am sincerely grateful for the citizens who joined with us to provide critical tips and information in this investigation.”