Surveillance video captures confrontation before Wilmer councilman's arrest

Exclusive surveillance video obtained by NBC 5 shows the confrontation at the center of the arrests of a Wilmer councilman and acting police chief.

Surveillance video exclusively obtained by NBC 5 shows the confrontation that investigators said led to the arrests of a Wilmer city councilman and the city's acting police chief.

The video captures the moments after Wilmer City Councilman Moses Garcia approached an employee at a Shell gas station last week. According to an arrest warrant, Garcia became increasingly confrontational and indicated he had influence and authority in the city. Detectives said that after leaving the store, Garcia referred to the employee using what sounded like a racial slur.

"Have you heard about me yet? You haven’t heard about me? ((expletive)) I got the ((expletive)) mayor gone, the chief… under my administration," Garcia said in the video.

The surveillance video shows another man attempting to restrain Garcia as they walked back toward their vehicle. Detectives said the video later shows Garcia removing his hat and pulling at his shirt as though he was preparing for a physical confrontation.

"Show me what you’ve got now. Show me what you’ve got now. Show me what you’ve got now," Garcia said in the video.

Garcia was arrested Monday on a charge of terroristic threat.

NBC 5 also learned through an offense report that Garcia was arrested in 2019 and charged with assault causing bodily injury to a family member after his girlfriend told Wilmer police he hit her in the face several times during an argument. Court records show Garcia pleaded guilty in 2020 and was released from probation in 2021.

The same surveillance video is also central to the arrest of Wilmer's Acting Police Chief, Jesus Mancillas.

Detectives said Mancillas took possession of the video from the officer who filed the report against Garcia and told the officer he would personally handle and control the investigation, despite not being commissioned as a member of the Wilmer Police Department. Mancillas was arrested Monday and is charged with interference with public duties.

Since Garcia was elected to the City Council in May, Wilmer Police Chief Victor Kemp, who served for 24 years, and Mayor Sheila Etta have resigned. Former City Administrator Steve Norwood was also relieved of his duties.

NBC 5 is still waiting to learn the conditions of Garcia's and Mancillas' bonds and whether the arrests will affect their roles with the city.

The Wilmer City Council is expected to hold a special-called meeting on Thursday to vote on an ordinance concerning the police chief position.

Garcia told NBC 5's Shannon Miller he would call her later in the day, but she had not heard back.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.