Teen shot by SAPD officer in 2022 arrested for 3rd time since incident

Erik Cantu, the teen previously shot by a SAPD officer in 2022, was arrested for the third time since being released from the hospital. Cantu, 18, was arrested Saturday, December 9 after allegedly ignoring a Universal City officer’s order to pull his vehicle over, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. after a Universal City police officer turned onto Kitty Hawk Road and noticed a white BMW pulled up behind the patrol vehicle. The driver of the BMW, identified as Cantu, accelerated past the marked unit at a speed greater than the 35 mph speed limit, according to a police report obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.

The officer turned on his emergency lights and siren, however, Cantu allegedly did not stop. Cantu reportedly merged onto a Loop 1604 access road, sped up to 80 mph, drove on the shoulder of the road at times, and changed lanes without signaling, according to the publication. 

Cantu then attempted to pass a Lexus SUV and struck the rear, according to police. Cantu eventually came to a stop in the parking lot of a big-box home furnishing store. The officer arrived at the lot and exited the patrol vehicle with his Glock 45 unholstered, pointing it toward the driver’s side door.

The officer instructed Cantu to get out of the vehicle and lay on the ground, which he did, according to police. He reportedly told the officer he didn’t stop because he didn’t think the officer was a “real cop,” according to the San Antonio Express-News. Cantu said he suffered from “PTSD” from the incident in 2022.

Cantu spent several months in the hospital last year after he was shot by former San Antonio Police officer James Brennand while eating in the parking lot of McDonald’s. Cantu was also arrested on September 8 for evading arrest and was arrested on June 28 for theft.

Cantu was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident with damage over $200.