SAN ANTONIO — An SAFD fire cadet has been terminated by the department after he allegedly choked a woman he went on a date with after they met through Bumble, according to officials.
The incident took place around midnight on Jan. 28 after Shavano Park Police officers were sent for a report of an assault involving strangulation, according to an arrest affidavit. The suspect, John Thomas Estrada, was arrested and accused of assault and choking/strangulation.
According to the affidavit, the 23-year-old woman told police she knew Estrada from middle school and matched with him on Bumble. They began speaking to each other through the app around October 2023. The two had not met in person until he picked her up for a date Jan. 27 at 9 p.m.
The woman tells police when they returned from the date, they started kissing each other inside his vehicle and later moved to the back seat. At this time, the woman says Estrada became aggressive after she told him she didn't want to have sexual intercourse, according to the affidavit.
The document says Estrada then forcibly unbuttoned the woman's pants while she was repeatedly telling him "no." The woman tried to get away and reached for her purse when Estrada grabbed the woman's throat so tightly that she couldn't breathe and almost blacked out, according to the affidavit. The woman was finally able to get a rear door open and exit the vehicle.
SAFD officials say Estrada's employment as a fire cadet (civilian employee) was terminated upon his arrest.
