DWI charge against Dallas police officer dropped, records show

The Dallas County district attorney’s office on Tuesday dismissed a drunk driving charge against a Dallas police officer who was fired more than a year after his arrest.

Kevin Masters, a 17-year veteran who was fired last March from the Dallas Police Department, plans to appeal the termination and get his job back, his attorney says.

Justin Moore, an attorney for Masters, said in an interview this week that his client’s traffic stop and subsequent blood alcohol test were illegal. Moore said a freelance journalist had called Cedar Hill police on the officer and watched until Masters was sent to jail, which prejudiced his client’s case.

“He was a good officer,” Moore said. “I don’t want to make any assumptions as to the civilian who called in the call, but we got to really be mindful of accusations on anybody in our society, especially now.”

The district attorney’s office declined to comment Thursday.

On Jan. 21, 2019, a news reporter had called 911 to report that Masters’ car was “all over the road” in Cedar Hill, in southwestern Dallas County, according to court documents. During the 911 call, the reporter identified himself to the dispatcher as a member of the media who was driving in a news vehicle, according to court records.

The arresting officer on body camera video says that because the call came from a journalist, it influenced his decision to arrest Masters, who was off duty, according to court records.

Cedar Hill police were called to Wintergreen Road and U.S. Highway 67 around 12:40 a.m. and located a vehicle matching the witness’s description. A juvenile under the age of 15 was with Masters at the time, records show, but their relationship was not specified in court documents. Initial reports had incorrectly stated Masters had been driving with two children.

On April 15, 2019, Masters was indicted on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated with a minor, according to court records. He had been assigned to the police department’s Community Engagement Section.

Records show there was a pending hearing to determine whether the blood evidence was legally obtained before the case was dropped. Moore said he had been prepared to go to trial.

Records obtained  show that in nearly two decades with the police department, Masters did not have serious disciplinary issues.