EDINBURG — Edcouch Police Chief Roel Guerra Jr. has been placed on suspension without pay indefinitely after his arrest on a domestic violence charge early Friday morning.
Guerra was arrested by Edinburg police just before 2 a.m. on one count of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, according to a probable cause affidavit for his arrest obtained by The Monitor.
Officers responded to Guerra’s home where they met with Guerra and his wife, Nicole Jasso-Leal, at the door.
Though Jasso-Leal’s name is redacted in the affidavit, both Guerra and the judge confirmed the incident involved Guerra’s wife during an initial appearance before Edinburg Municipal Judge Toribio “Terry” Palacios on Friday afternoon.
Jasso-Leal is the executive director of the Border Health Political Action Committee.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the arresting officer noticed that Jasso-Leal appeared to be crying and “wiping tears from her face, and observed Roel to be staring at (her) in an aggressive manner as he stood close to her face” while the officer tried to speak to the couple.
After the officer asked Jasso-Leal to step out of the home, she told him she and Guerra had had an argument at a local restaurant after which she had decided to walk home. She then claims Guerra returned to the home while she was taking a shower.
Jasso-Leal told police that her husband entered the restroom and pulled her out of the shower while pulling her hair.
“Roel went into the restroom and pulled on her hair and pulled (her) out of the shower. Roel then pushed and threw (her) into the corner area of the bathroom… Roel grabbed (her) from her upper arms, and told her he was not going to be mistreated,” the affidavit reads, in part.
Guerra allegedly continued to push his wife around as she moved into their bedroom, the affidavit reads.
The arresting officer noted that her left arm appeared to be red. Another officer who responded to the scene also noted that Jasso-Leal “had minor injuries to both her arms, and scratch marks on the right side of her back,” the affidavit reads.
Reached for comment Friday afternoon, Edcouch City Manager Victor Hugo de la Cruz said he had placed Guerra on unpaid leave indefinitely.
“All my employees have to be 100% Edcouch 100% of the time, and act accordingly. I don’t think there’s any room, and zero tolerance for that,” de la Cruz said of Guerra’s arrest and suspension.
“But there is a justice system and we have to follow it,” he said.
Lt. Juan Quintana, who served as police chief prior to Guerra’s hiring last year, will resume his duties as chief in Guerra’s absence, de la Cruz said.
During his initial appearance, Palacios set Guerra’s bond at $5,000 cash or surety. He also issued a 61-day protective order on behalf of Jasso-Leal.
“The purpose that we give them an emergency protective order without having a hearing is to protect her, to make sure she has an opportunity to go get a permanent protective order, if she wants one,” Palacios said.
Guerra asked if that applied even though he and Jasso-Leal are married and live in the same house with their respective children from prior relationships.
“I have two daughters of my own and we all live in the same house,” Guerra said, adding that he maintains full custody of his two children.
Palacios said Guerra could communicate with his wife regarding the children’s living arrangements, and that she can also petition to modify the protective order.
After the short exchange, Palacios asked Guerra what attorney represented him, saying that his attorney could better explain the situation to him. Guerra replied that his attorney is Orlando “O.J.” Jimenez.
Jimenez serves as the city attorney for Edcouch.
When asked if he was aware that the chief had claimed the city attorney was his personal defense attorney, de la Cruz, the city manager, condemned the assertion.
“O.J. can’t defend him in that capacity. O.J. works for the city,” de la Cruz said, adding that Jimenez had made no such representations during conversations earlier in the day.
“Myself and the commission, we would frown upon that,” de la Cruz said, calling the idea unethical.
When reached for comment by phone, Jimenez echoed that sentiment.
“I cannot represent him. I’m not too sure why the chief said that I was going to personally represent him,” Jimenez said.
“Again, because it poses a very horrible potential conflict of interest with the city and his personal affairs, I could not, in good conscience and under the rules of professional misconduct (sic), represent him,” he said.
