SAN ANTONIO — Christopher Steele, who previously served as head of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association for nearly 20 years, was arrested in Hays County for allegedly harassing potential applicants for the city's fire department chief position.
Records state Steele sent emails and text messages to multiple members of the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) in March – when the position opened, in the wake of former Chief Charles Hood's ousting – identifying himself as an independent investigator named Frank who had uncovered "concerning allegations" of apparent behavior. That behavior, the communications claimed, ranged from offensive speech to exploiting their position within the department.
Steele, 57, was arrested Friday in Hays County and released the next day on a $3,000 bond. He faces felony stalking charges, which could result in up to 10 years in prison if he's convicted.
According to investigators with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the recipients of those messages allegedly sent by Steele said they weren't aware about any claims made against them or their colleagues. Instead, they told investigators, they felt they were being threatened not to apply to lead the department.
One of the recipients, records show, was Valerie Frausto, who is currently an interim deputy chief in charge of administrative services for SAFD. According to records, "Frank" claimed he had information she had used her position to influence a business inspection and try to "impose maximum fines" upon them.
The emails went on to say the allegations wouldn't be made public unless Frausto pursued the fire chief position. She also alleges "Frank" had given her an ultimatum to respond within 24 hours to a follow-up email; otherwise, the sender wrote, "allegations would be released."
The sender went as far as to include what a press release would look like before it was distributed to local media.
Records say Frausto felt the sender was trying to coerce her into not applying for the chief position.
A colleague of Frausto's received an email from the same account urging them to come forward about "allegations of physical abuse within your relationship" with Frausto, according to records. But that colleague told investigators she "did not know what the sender was referring to" and "had never had a relationship" with Fausto aside from both attending the same high school.
Frausto reported the first email to the city attorney's office, which was able to obtain a cease-and-desist against the sender. Records show the city followed up with officials at the background check company GoodHire, which the initial communications came from, who "disclaimed any knowledge of 'Frank' and the alleged investigation, pointing to the sender's misrepresentations as being for the purposes of intimidation or fraud."
SAPD looked into phone and internet records and was able to connect Steele to the accounts the communications came from, records show. A district court judge signed a search warrant for Steele's San Marcos home on May 30, permitting law enforcement to seize computers and routers, along with other potential evidence.
Steele was arrested the next day.
In a statement to KENS 5, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Union said it was aware of the alleged behavior that stands "in stark contrast to the extremely high standards of honor and duty maintained by the association and its members."
"The variety of behavior suggested by the allegations is not tolerated within our organization," the statement goes on to read. "We have methodically rebuilt our organization over the last two years and we believe our firefighters and paramedics can be proud of the values practiced within our new leadership team."
SAFD didn't provide a comment to KENS 5, citing the ongoing investigation.
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