Hidalgo police accuse a 47-year-old Edcouch man of grabbing an officer’s gun during a struggle in flood waters as authorities tried to arrest the man for smuggling people into the country illegally.
The struggle ensued after two city of Hidalgo patrol officers saw several vehicles parked in the middle of the roadway at 600 E. Produce St. at around 2:53 p.m. Wednesday when a large group of people exited from a brushy area and boarded a Ford Expedition, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“Ofc. Sanchez proceeded to conduct a traffic stop of said vehicle but the Chrysler 200 and the Chevrolet SUV stayed in the middle of the roadway, blocking it. Ofc. Sanchez observed the Ford Expedition leaving the location at a high rate of speed,” the affidavit says.
That’s when the officer said he then saw a Pontiac sedan leave the brushy area and realized it was one of the vehicles he saw earlier that was blocking the roadway.
The officer pointed a flashlight at the vehicle and saw two men wearing black clothing trying to hide from the light.
The officer made contact with the Pontiac’s driver, who gave a false name.
Police, however, identified the man as Jose Gabriel Hernandez and also saw two men and a woman inside the Pontiac who were wet and muddy.
“The two male subjects ran from the location. Simultaneously, Jose Gabriel Hernandez became aggressive and attempted to close the driver’s side door. Ofc. Sanchez reached inside the Pontiac and took the keys from the ignition switch,” the affidavit states.
That’s when police saw Hernandez pushed the officer, stepped out of the vehicle, elbowed the officer and began to run away from police into a flooded street.
“Ofc. Sanchez ran after Jose Gabriel Hernandez who went into the flooded street waters. Ofc. Sanchez multiple times ordered Jose Gabriel Hernandez to stop and tried to hold him but Jose Gabriel Hernandez fought back,” the affidavit says.
Despite continued commands to surrender, police say Hernandez continued to resist and that his aggressiveness escalated.
“Ofc. Crain assisted Ofc. Sanchez in attempting to restrain Jose Gabriel Hernandez but he continued to resist by using his closed right first to attempt to punch Ofc. Crain on the face,” the affidavit states.
The other officer stopped the punch by grabbing Hernandez’s arm before police say Hernandez bit the officer’s wrist hard enough for the man to feel a burning sharp pain.
“Ofc. Sanchez advised Jose Gabriel Hernandez to stop biting him but he didn’t let go for about a minute,” the affidavit says.
The other officer tried to help by holding Hernandez and both men went down into the flooded street, police say.
“Ofc. Sanchez observed Ofc. Crain’s face going into the water yelling, ‘My weapon, my weapon,’” the affidavit says. “Ofc. Crain stated Jose Gabriel Hernandez took his duty weapon from his holster when Ofc. Sanchez began punching Jose Gabriel Hernandez on his face fearing for both their lives.”
After the struggle, police say they were finally able to gain control of the situation and arrested Hernandez.
He is charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, evading arrest, resisting arrest, taking a weapon from an officer, smuggling of persons and failure to identify.
He remains jailed in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a total of $260,000 in bonds, records show.
