A 37-year-old man was arrested after he reportedly punched an Ector County Sheriff’s Office deputy with a closed fist twice in the abdomen after he admitted that was a methamphetamine user.
Juan Garcia Guerrero was charged Thursday with assaulting a peace officer, a third-degree felony. He also had a charge of violate promise to appear, a class C misdemeanor.
The reported assault on a peace officer happened at 11:58 a.m. in the 2700 block of Mercury Avenue, the ECSO affidavit detailed.
ECSO deputies reportedly saw a white male wearing a large backpack and handed something to two passengers in the vehicle. The vehicle was parked at a game room in an area with heavy narcotics traffic.
Deputies made contact with two occupants in the vehicle, who were identified as 36-year-old Jessica Gatlin and Guerrero, the affidavit stated. Deputies stated while speaking with Gatlin and Guerrero both stated they are users of meth.
During the interview, deputies stated Guerrero began to move back and away from the peace officers and he started to reach toward his waistline and pockets after being asked not to, the affidavit detailed.
Guerrero was reportedly asked to turn around and a deputy grabbed his wrist for a pat down and then he attempted to pull away and then the deputy pulled Guerrero closed to prevent his escape. Guerrero made a closed fist swung toward the deputy, but missed.
The deputy took Guerrero to the ground and was positioned on top of him, the affidavit stated. Guerrero created a closed fist again and struck the deputy twice in the area of the abdomen.
Guerrero was arrested, charged and transported to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center. He had one bond totaling $10,000 and was still in custody as of Friday afternoon, jail records show.
