Six officers within the Dallas Police Department have been disciplined following an investigation into a 2025 fatal crash on Northwest Highway that killed 25-year-old Atianna Washington. The investigation centered on the handling of the scene,which involved former Dallas Police Association President Jaime Castro.
The 14 violations stemming from the Northwest Highway fatality
The Dallas Police Department has issued various disciplinary actions against six officers after finding 14 total violations in their response to the March 15, 2025, crash. As reported in the source, these penalties include an eight-day suspension for one sergeant, shorter suspensions for two officers, and written reprimands for another sergeant and two additional officers.
These disciplinary measures follow a lengthy investigation into how the department managed the scene where Atianna Washington was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the highway. The delay in these actions, coming over a year after the incident, underscores the complexity of internal investigations involving high-profile department members.
Jaime Castro’s guilty plea and the false driver claim
Former senior corporal Jaime Castro pleaded guilty in March to making a false statement to police officers regarding the circumstances of the fatal accident. According to the report, Castro claimed that his girlfriend, Angela Valles, was the driver of the vehicle and had not consumed alcohol prior to the crash.
Castro, who had served with the Dallas Police Department since 1998, has since retired and stepped down from his role as the president of the police union. His actions at the scene, where he was seen by FOX 4 cameras speaking with officers and shaking hands, became a focal point once the victim's family attorney began questioning the official narrative.
The wrongful lawsuit and the push for impartial oversight
The family of Atianna Washington has filed a wrongful lawsuit against both Jaime Castro and Angela Valles, alleging that law enforcement failed to conduct an impartial investigation. This legal action seeks to hold the individuals involved accountable for the failure to properly investigate the crash that led to Washington's death.
Brandon Friedman, a member of the City of Dallas Community Police Oversight Board, has emphasized that accountability is essential to maintaining public trust.. Friedman noted that providing preferential treatment to officers can reflect poorly on the City of Dallas, particularly when those involved in covering up crimes are not held to the same standards as the public.
Who was actually behind the wheel of the vehicle?
A significant gap remains in the official record regarding the identity of the person driving the vehicle during the fatal March 2025 crash.. While Jaime Castro admitted to lying about the driver, the Dallas Police Department has not publicly identified the actual operator of the car.
This lack of transparency leaves several questions unanswered for the victim's family and the public. While the department has disciplined six officers for their handling of the case, the failure to name the driver remains a central point of contention in the ongoing wrongful lawsuit.
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