(Dallas County Sheriff's Office via AP)DALLAS โ A Dallas police officer charged in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme was being investigated for longer than authorities have previously acknowledged, sharpening questions about why he continued to patrol the city while under investigation for the 2017 killings.
But in 2017, a Dallas police detective testified in court that Riser was the โsubjectโ of an investigation into the killing of 31-year-old Liza Saenz, according to a transcript of the proceeding.
He is being held on a $5 million bond and his attorney, Toby Shook, said the 36-year-old officer is innocent.
During his 2017 testimony, Detective Kevin Whitworth said he began investigating the officer after the father of Saenzโs child was convicted in a separate murder case.
On Monday, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson formed a City Council committee to investigate why Riser continued to serve while under investigation.