Ex-San Antonio Police Department officer James Brennand, who was terminated and is facing trial for the 2022 shooting of a teenager, took matters into his own hands when he helped subdue a suspect in a vehicle burglary. The incident occurred outside a West Side tool shop, where James Brennand and another individual held down the accused, Jacob Ramos, preventing further escalation, according to KSAT.
On January 27, Ramos was caught burglarizing a truck at Harbor Freight. The truck's owner, a volunteer for homeland security and school district police departments with a carry license, fired a shot at Ramos but did not hit him. Brennand and a second man then intervened, reportedly to maintain safety. Though SAPD officials redacted Brennand's name from their report, sources confirmed his involvement to KSAT.
There's a twist in the tale, as SAPD investigators are considering charges against the victim for deadly conduct - firearm due to Ramos being unarmed when the shot was fired. Meanwhile, Ramos, booked on misdemeanor burglary charges, has already seen jail and court for this case and a separate theft incident.
Amidst this chaos, Brennand is embroiled in his own legal battles. He's slated for a trial concerning the shooting of Erik Cantu and is fighting for a change of venue over concerns of jury impartiality - a motion yet to be decided by a judge. Allegations of undue influence have surfaced after the DA's office engaged with the Wren Collective, a criminal justice reform group, before dropping charges against Cantu. A hearing set for March 7 will discuss the relevance of those communications to Brennand's case.
