April 24, 2011 Former Corpus Christi police officer commits suicide in Wal-Mart parking lot www.privateofficer.com
Patzner, a former marine, had graduated from the Police Academy in 1988. He served in the swat unit and was in the patrol division covering downtown Corpus Christi and then Annaville. He was also a man who had been arrested for drugs and a weapons charge.
The body of Patzner was found inside his white van in the parking lot of the Greenwood Walmart at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2011. It’s believed the former CCPD patrol officer shot himself in the head. He may have been dead and inside his van for some time. Police were told he could have arrived at the Walmart at around noon. No one apparently witnessed the shooting but Walmart does have security cameras aimed at the parking lot, and police will take a look at those tapes.
Assistant Police Chief Steve Mylett says, “we’re going to be interviewing his family members to see if there was anything that would lead him to take his own life, but again we’re waiting on the medical examiner’s report to make the determination of the cause of death.”
Patzner did have a head wound, and a revolver was found on the floorboard of the van. Patzner retired from the force in 2008 and shortly after that he was being questioned by police about his involvement in drugs.
According to the Nueces County Court records, in august of 2009 he was arrested on charges involving drug possession and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Most of the charges were dropped after he pled no contest to the marijuana and gun charge. He was given probation for a year which actually ended back in march of this year.
Patzner leaves behind a wife, an 18 year old son, and a 12 year old daughter.
Officers who worked with Patzner say he was a thrill seeker who they remember parachuting off the Harbor Bridge several times back in the 90′s.
Source:kiiitv.com
Tags: a former Corpus Christi Police Officer, Martin Patzner
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