A Santa Fe police officer has been placed on administrative leave after
he was arrested Sunday evening on charges of battery on a household member and
interfering with communications.
Jon Lopez, 30, made arrangements with Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies to meet him at the Santa Fe Police Department headquarters at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, when he was arrested and later booked into jail.
The arrest comes just two days after the initiation of a "zero-tolerance" policy at the Santa Fe Police Department that recommends an officer be terminated upon conviction for a violent crime, even if it's a first offense. The policy was adopted after members of the Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families and Solace Crisis Treatment Center contacted the police chief, asking for accountability in the police department with regard to cases involving domestic violence, sexual offenses and other types of misconduct.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a domestic dispute at about 6:12 p.m. Sunday, in which Lopez's wife reported that a verbal altercation had turned physical. According to the statement of probable cause against Lopez, he accused his wife of infidelity.
The document, filed in Magistrate Court, alleges Lopez grabbed his wife's arm and knocked her to the ground twice. Sheriff Robert Garcia said deputies saw that "she had marks on her arms consistent with bruising and a scratch."
Garcia said Lopez took his wife's cellphone before leaving the house. The statement of probable cause says, "Jon Lopez refused to leave the residence until she [his wife] stated she would not call police."
Lopez, according to a news release by Santa Fe police, had been an officer for three years and was assigned to the patrol division.
Lopez eventually called his house off Muscat Drive near N.M. 14 while deputies were interviewing his wife. Lopez agreed to meet with the deputies at Santa Fe police headquarters. Garcia said Lopez was off duty during the incident.
During interviews with deputies, Lopez admitted to grabbing his wife and taking her to the ground, using what he called an "arm bar." He also admitted to taking her cellphone.
Police Chief Ray Rael was notified of the arrest late Sunday night.
Rael said in an interview last week that the new policy should bolster the public's trust in his department because prior to the zero-tolerance policy, "punishment varied from written reprimands to suspensions."
Rael said there will be two investigations into Lopez's alleged actions -- a criminal investigation and an internal department investigation.
"We will initiate our internal-affairs investigation immediately, and if the evidence shows that there is probable cause that he did commit this crime, the appropriate action will be taken," Rael said.
He said the internal investigation will not rely on the criminal investigation and that action within the department can be taken before the criminal case is heard.
According to the Santa Fe County jail website, Lopez was booked at about 9:06 p.m. Sunday. He was released Monday afternoon.
Jon Lopez, 30, made arrangements with Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies to meet him at the Santa Fe Police Department headquarters at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, when he was arrested and later booked into jail.
The arrest comes just two days after the initiation of a "zero-tolerance" policy at the Santa Fe Police Department that recommends an officer be terminated upon conviction for a violent crime, even if it's a first offense. The policy was adopted after members of the Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families and Solace Crisis Treatment Center contacted the police chief, asking for accountability in the police department with regard to cases involving domestic violence, sexual offenses and other types of misconduct.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a domestic dispute at about 6:12 p.m. Sunday, in which Lopez's wife reported that a verbal altercation had turned physical. According to the statement of probable cause against Lopez, he accused his wife of infidelity.
The document, filed in Magistrate Court, alleges Lopez grabbed his wife's arm and knocked her to the ground twice. Sheriff Robert Garcia said deputies saw that "she had marks on her arms consistent with bruising and a scratch."
Garcia said Lopez took his wife's cellphone before leaving the house. The statement of probable cause says, "Jon Lopez refused to leave the residence until she [his wife] stated she would not call police."
Lopez, according to a news release by Santa Fe police, had been an officer for three years and was assigned to the patrol division.
Lopez eventually called his house off Muscat Drive near N.M. 14 while deputies were interviewing his wife. Lopez agreed to meet with the deputies at Santa Fe police headquarters. Garcia said Lopez was off duty during the incident.
During interviews with deputies, Lopez admitted to grabbing his wife and taking her to the ground, using what he called an "arm bar." He also admitted to taking her cellphone.
Police Chief Ray Rael was notified of the arrest late Sunday night.
Rael said in an interview last week that the new policy should bolster the public's trust in his department because prior to the zero-tolerance policy, "punishment varied from written reprimands to suspensions."
Rael said there will be two investigations into Lopez's alleged actions -- a criminal investigation and an internal department investigation.
"We will initiate our internal-affairs investigation immediately, and if the evidence shows that there is probable cause that he did commit this crime, the appropriate action will be taken," Rael said.
He said the internal investigation will not rely on the criminal investigation and that action within the department can be taken before the criminal case is heard.
According to the Santa Fe County jail website, Lopez was booked at about 9:06 p.m. Sunday. He was released Monday afternoon.