The Denton Police Department has clarified that its investigation into a fatal crash remains active after an officer incorrectly informed the victim’s family that the case was closed. The department also issued an apology for how the information was delivered during a meeting with the boy’s mother.
Lt. Mike Rose reviewed documentation regarding a Tuesday meeting between lead investigators George Mundo and William Happ and Alyssa Balderas, the mother of Abel Balderas.
According to Balderas, Officer Mundo, who serves as the lead investigator on the case, told her that the investigation was closed, no criminal charges would be filed against the driver, and the matter would not be reviewed by the Denton County District Attorney’s Office.
Balderas stated that she felt Mundo’s delivery of this information was insensitive and inappropriate. She later contacted the Denton Record-Chronicle to express concern that the department had hastily closed the fatal crash investigation without proper review.
On Thursday, Lt. Rose reviewed the documentation from the Tuesday meeting and subsequently contacted Balderas in the evening. He confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that Officer Mundo was incorrect regarding its status.
Balderas reported that the lieutenant apologized for the way the officers handled the meeting and noted that he is counseling them on how to manage similar situations more effectively in the future.
