SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CN) — A San Antonio police detective testified Tuesday that a woman in the midst of a mental health episode wouldn’t have been a danger to three police officers who later fatally shot her — remarks that drew scoffs and laughter from defense attorneys in the high-profile murder trial.
Detective Ronald Soto, the lead investigator in the case, told jurors on the 12th day of testimony in a trial over the June 23, 2023, death of Melissa Perez that he was “shocked” the three officers charged did not use less-lethal force during the confrontation.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Jason Goss, Soto conceded that Perez swung a hammer close to an officer’s head, wasn’t assaulted by police and that she was a methamphetamine user…