IMPERIAL — A retired sheriff’s deputy initially suspected
of impaired driving posted bail early Friday after being struck with a baton on
his legs during an encounter with two Imperial police officers.
Jesus Lopez, 49, who works for the U.S. Marshal’s Office, was arrested and booked into the county jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon following the 12:49 a.m. incident on Aten Road west of Highway 86.
Jesus Lopez, 49, who works for the U.S. Marshal’s Office, was arrested and booked into the county jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon following the 12:49 a.m. incident on Aten Road west of Highway 86.
The incident involving Lopez follows another encounter
with Imperial police that occurred in July 2010 when 22-year-old motorist
Edmund “Bubba” Gutierrez died after a violent struggle with two officers.
Coroner’s officials ruled Gutierrez’s death as a technical homicide since he was in police custody, but the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office cleared officers Eric Granado and Joseph Garibaldi because there was insufficient evidence to charge them with any wrongdoing.
Coroner’s officials ruled Gutierrez’s death as a technical homicide since he was in police custody, but the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office cleared officers Eric Granado and Joseph Garibaldi because there was insufficient evidence to charge them with any wrongdoing.