I broke the news about this story, which was published on InstantNewsWestU.com on Oct. 28, 2009. View the original here or download a PDF version. Follow-up articles included Former West U. Officer “Shocked” By Felony Charges Against Him (link or PDF) and City Manager Says Police Officer Will Remain Fired (link or PDF).

A police officer from West University Place was fired last month and now faces two felony charges that could each bring 2-to-10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Nelson Hernandez, who is still appealing his Sept. 18 termination from the West U. Police Department, is charged with two counts of tampering with a governmental record after he allegedly fabricated the reasons he pulled over two cars. Video footage from his in-car camera showed a different story than Hernandez allegedly wrote in his report, according to a complaint the police department filed with the Harris County District Court.

Hernandez is the second officer since October 2008 that the department has fired after in-car video footage allegedly showed that things the officers reported had not actually happened. Tomorrow, InstantnewsWestU will have details on the first officer who was fired.

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