EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Chief of the El Paso Police Department said officers acted within policy while addressing an arrest that went viral after a video showed an officer punching the woman suspect.
Chief Peter Pacillas held a press conference inside police headquarters in Central El Paso on Friday morning, where he stated that after an investigation into the arrest of 28-year old Kelcee Renee Hufford, Internal Affairs, and a Use of Force Discipline Review Board found that the officers’ actions were within policy.
“The officer acted within the law and policy of the El Paso Police Department, that’s what I expect my officers to do,” Pacillas said.
Pacillas said that officers were acting on a warrant regarding a violent incident and responded appropriately after Hufford resisted.
“When somebody’s resisting arrest… It doesn’t matter the gender, the size of the individual, it’s a fight to try to get somebody restrained and get them into handcuffs,” Pacillas said.
When asked if EPPD will release the bodycam video of the arrest, Pacillas said: “We do not want to affect the investigation, or the course the District Attorney’s office has to take to go to prosecution.”
Below is the full press conference.
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El Paso police chief Peter Pacillas addresses viral arrest video. April 10, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
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As it has been reported, Hufford was arrested on April 2 for an outstanding warrant on family violence charges after she allegedly got into a fight with her roommate on March 31 over a rent issue.
KFOX14/CBS4 obtained the arrest affidavit, which describes several times that the officer lost his balance due to Hufford’s actions, such as her reportedly “pulling her arm back” when officers grabbed her and her “dropping her weight,” when they kept holding her, as well as the fact that the officer “deployed his taser” but was “ineffective.”
However, the affidavit doesn’t describe the officer’s punch nor the injury Hufford sustained in her right eye.
Kelcee Renee Hufford (credit: EPPD)
During her arrest, however, a bystander took a video that was shared on social media and shows officers inside a home struggling to arrest Hufford, leading to one officer punching Hufford in the head.
In the video, Hufford claims she was tased three times and says the officers are “holding her hostage,” while another voice, presumably Hufford’s mother, claims she has autism.
Below is the video shared on social media.
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Video shows El Paso officer punching woman during arrest; police investigating incident (credit: Fitfam)
When booked, police charged Hufford with resisting arrest and released the following statement:
The El Paso Police Department is aware of the social media video involving an arrest in Central El Paso. Officers were locating a suspect wanted for Family Violence/Assault. Force was used during the apprehension.The subject was booked in the El Paso County Detention Facility on Family Violence/Assault charges and Resisting Arrest with bonds of $3000.00 and $1000.00. The subject was released on a personal recognizance bond.Per department policy, the Internal Affairs Division is reviewing the incident. We recognize the community’s concern and are committed to transparency. We will share further information as the investigation allows, and appreciate the public’s patience.
READ MORE: Video shows El Paso officer punching woman during arrest; police investigating incident
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