d policy,  Alsbrooks said.  Specifically, the deputy was supposed to approach her and identify himself. He did not do that. He gave commands to her from his vehicle, asking her to step out and approach him. 

Alsbrooks said context is important when evaluating the encounter, particularly because Kim is a sexual assault survivor who was stopped at night and did not initially know who was calling out to her from behind the truck.

 There was a clear deviation from the seven-step violator protocol that is sheriff's office policy,  Alsbrooks said.  There's no justifiable reason for that deviation when you review the body-camera footage. 

Alsbrooks said deputies should be allowed to depart from standard traffic-stop procedures when there is a legitimate safety concern. However, he said the video did not appear to show circumstances that justified doing so in Kim's case.

 It should be dismissed,  Alsbrooks said of the criminal case.  I don't think that case should move forward. 

Increase in interference cases

Alsbrooks said he has seen what he described as a significant increase in people being charged with interfering with public duties in Montgomery County.

KPRC 2 filed a public records request with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office which showed 213 cases filed for interference with public duties in 2025, with more than 60% of those cases dismissed.

In 2017, that number was 29, with 44% of cases dismissed.

 Of the cases on my docket, I can truthfully tell you, I've had 75 to 80% of these cases dismissed,  Alsbrooks said.

Under Section 38.15 of the Texas Penal Code, a person may be charged with interfering with public duties if they act with criminal negligence to interrupt, disrupt, impede or otherwise interfere with a peace officer performing a duty.

Alsbrooks said the statute can be appropriately used when someone meaningfully obstructs an officer's work. He questioned whether it should apply to routine traffic stops in which a driver is slow to comply, asks questions or attempts to understand what is happening.

 In my opinion, there's overcharging going on and abuse of that statute,  said Alsbrooks.

Retired HPD captain also questions arrest

Dr. Greg Fremin, a retired Houston Police Department captain and current professor, previously reviewed the complete body-camera video for KPRC 2. After reviewing the unredacted policy, he also concluded that the deputy did not follow the agency's procedure.

 He deviated from their standard operating procedure, specifically the very first line about walking up to the car and introducing yourself,  Fremin said.

Fremin described the sheriff's office policy as a standard traffic-stop procedure that is consistent with law enforcement training. He said Kim's stop involved minor alleged violations rather than a suspected felony or another apparent circumstance that would require the deputy to remain behind her vehicle.

 It wasn't a felony stop, anything that would have been exigent circumstances,  Fremin said.  So he definitely deviated from their SOP, in my opinion. 

Kim files formal complaint

After KPRC 2's initial report, a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said Texas law gives an officer the legal authority to order a driver out of a vehicle.

Kim has since filed a formal complaint against the deputy with the sheriff's office's Internal Affairs Division.

KPRC 2 contacted the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Montgomery County Law Enforcement Association with questions about the department's traffic stop policy. This story will be updated when the agency responds.