San Antonio Police Officer Austin Wilke Arrested on Assault Charge Involving Spouse, Placed on Leave

Arrest announced by city; Bexar County Sheriff’s Office handling criminal investigation

A San Antonio Police Department patrol officer was arrested Wednesday morning, Jan. 28, 2026, on an assault charge involving a spouse, city officials said. Officer Austin Wilke, 31, was taken into custody by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and booked on a charge listed as “Assault Bodily Injury – Married.”

The city said Wilke is a three-year veteran assigned to patrol. SAPD said he will be placed on administrative leave initially, while separate criminal and administrative investigations proceed.

How the case will be investigated

The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the criminal investigation, including arrest details, booking documentation and any probable-cause filings. SAPD said it will conduct its own administrative investigation, a parallel process that typically reviews policy compliance and employment status independent of the criminal case’s outcome.

SAPD Chief William McManus, in a statement released by the city, characterized the domestic-violence allegation as unacceptable and said the department treats such allegations seriously.

What is known and what remains unclear

As of Wednesday, the city’s announcement did not include details describing the incident’s location, the time the alleged assault occurred, the extent of any injuries, whether an emergency call prompted the response, or whether a protective order was sought. Those details are generally addressed in arrest affidavits, incident reports, or court records once they are filed and made available.

The city also did not provide information on whether Wilke has previously been the subject of sustained internal complaints or discipline.

Recent pattern of SAPD domestic-violence-related arrests publicly disclosed by the city

The Jan. 28 arrest comes amid multiple city announcements in the past two years involving SAPD personnel arrested on family-violence or domestic-violence-related allegations while off duty:

• Sept. 20, 2025: An SAPD officer assigned to a specialized unit turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued in Medina County for an alleged off-duty incident; the charge was listed as assault by choking/strangulation involving family.
• Feb. 6, 2025: An SAPD officer was arrested on a charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member for an alleged off-duty incident; the city said he was placed on administrative duty.
• Dec. 26, 2024: An SAPD officer was arrested on a family-assault bodily injury charge while off duty and placed on administrative duty, the city said.
• Dec. 9, 2024: An SAPD sergeant was arrested on an assault bodily injury-family charge while off duty and placed on administrative duty, according to a city release.

Wilke’s employment status beyond the initial leave, along with any disciplinary action, will depend on findings from the administrative investigation and the progress of the criminal case.

The Sheriff’s Office has been identified as the point of contact for additional case information.