An Oak Ridge North police officer once held up as a model for cracking down on drunken driving is now facing a DWI charge himself, the city says.
Officer Zachary Castanon, who had been honored locally for DWI enforcement, was arrested on Sunday after a supervisor reportedly smelled alcohol when Castanon showed up for duty, according to the city. The Texas Department of Public Safety later charged him with driving while intoxicated, and he was booked into the Montgomery County Jail. City officials say he is no longer employed by Oak Ridge North.
As reported by EMC Gazette, Oak Ridge North reproduced a city press release stating that the observing officer immediately notified a supervisor, who then asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to conduct an independent outside investigation. The release said the city is "fully cooperating with DPS" and confirmed that Castanon was booked on a DWI charge.
Just a few months earlier, in February 2025, Castanon had been singled out at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s vehicular-crimes awards as an Exemplary DWI Officer, according to Montgomery County News. His specialized training and participation in DWI initiatives had made him stand out among area agencies, which is part of why the arrest is turning heads in neighboring departments.
How the department responded
The city said calling in an outside agency follows department policy and is "rarely invoked" in Montgomery County, according to the press release reproduced by EMC Gazette. Oak Ridge North praised both the officer who spoke up and the supervisor who pushed for an independent probe, casting their actions as part of a broader effort to maintain professionalism and public trust inside the department.
What happens next
The Texas Department of Public Safety will continue its investigation, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any charges beyond the initial booking. Driving while intoxicated is prosecuted under Texas Penal Code §49.04, and a first-offense DWI is typically a Class B misdemeanor with possible fines and short jail terms. Penalties increase for repeat or aggravated cases, according to FindLaw.
Small police departments in Montgomery County often lean on mutual aid and informal cooperation, and Oak Ridge North’s decision to bring in an outside investigation highlights the pressure those agencies face when one of their own, especially a high-profile DWI enforcer, is accused of the same offense. Residents and neighboring police chiefs will be watching closely as DPS and local prosecutors decide how to handle the case as it moves through the system.
