EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A traffic stop resulted in the arrest of two parents, as the investigation revealed that two children were in the vehicle while the father was allegedly driving under the influence, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Ricardo Rivera, 25, was charged with DWI with child under 15 years of age. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $2,000 bond.

Cynthia Garcia, 29, was arrested with two warrants for abandoning or endangering a child and booked into the County Detention Facility.
Shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, deputies conducted a traffic stop after allegedly seeing a vehicle failing to signal before making a left turn and not allegedly staying in a single lane when driving.
During the traffic stop, deputies identified the driver as Rivera and saw signs of intoxication, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Following field sobriety testing and further investigation, Rivera was arrested for DWI.
Rivera provided a breath sample that registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.204, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08, EPCSO said.
Deputies also found two children, ages 2 and 3, inside the vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, deputies determined that the children’s mother, identified as Garcia, had allegedly placed the children in imminent danger, according to EPCSO. Deputies obtained two arrest warrants for abandoning or endangering a child, one for each kid.
Both warrants were issued with no bond and Garcia was later taken into custody.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, this marks Garcia’s second charge for abandoning or endangering a child within the past three months.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that driving while intoxicated places everyone on the road in danger, especially children who depend on adults to keep them safe,” EPCSO said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.