EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — After several officers with the El Paso Police Department punched a 26-year-old man “several times in the face,” he was arrested and is facing a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by KTSM.
Daniel Rodriguez Jr. was arrested on Sunday, April 5, and is charged with DWI. In a social media post, Rodriguez’s mugshot was a part of 40 other individuals who were arrested for DWI or DWI-related crimes within the previous week. Rodriguez’s mugshot is found on the fourth slide on the bottom left-hand side.
According to jail records, Rodriguez posted bond on April 6 on the following charges: DWI, evading arrest/detention with a vehicle and resisting arrest, search or transport.
Shortly before 4 a.m. on Sunday, an officer was traveling northbound on Cotton Street. As the officer was driving, they saw a pickup truck failing to stop at the intersection of Wyoming and Cotton. The traffic signal for the pickup truck was flashing red.
After a pursuit, the pickup truck stopped at 2000 Sun Bowl Dr. The driver, identified as Rodriguez, was placed under arrest.
According to court documents, Rodriguez resisted arrest and was taken down to the ground be several officers.
“Due to (Rodriguez) resisting arrest, he was punched on the face several times to gain control and compliance,” read the affidavit.
Daniel Rodriguez. Photo courtesy of El Paso Police Department.
Rodriguez’s face began to swell, and he was then placed in double-lock handcuffs.
An officer spoke with Rodriguez and noted that they “immediately” noticed signs of intoxication from him and detected a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage from his breath and person, according to the court document.
The officer asked Rodriguez why he didn’t stop when the police unit turned on the lights. Rodriguez replied, “Because (I) was stupid,” read court documents. Rodriguez also told the officer that he was coming from a bar and that he had three glasses of tequila.
An officer later found two open cans of “Modelo” beer in the pickup truck, as well as two closed containers, all of which were cold to the touch.
According to the affidavit, due to Rodriguez resisting arrest, they did not remove the handcuffs and did not do a sobriety test.
Rodriguez provided a breath sample and the results showed .147 and .158, nearly double the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit.
KTSM 9 News has reached out to the El Paso Police Department for the body camera footage.
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