Documents allege El Paso police officer choked, punched girlfriend after night of drinking
An El Paso police officer allegedly choked, dragged and punched his girlfriend several times in the head and face after a night of heavy drinking, court documents state.
Joshua Anthony Gallardo, 27, was arrested July 9 on suspicion of assault family violence impeding breath, El Paso Police Department officials said.
Gallardo, who was off duty at the time, was "drinking heavily" about 1:45 a.m. July 9 with his uncle because it was the birthday of his father, who had recently died, a complaint affidavit states.
The uncle then left the bar and Gallardo continued drinking heavily with other off-duty officers who were there. The girlfriend, who was with a friend, then walked outside the bar to wait for Gallardo.
Gallardo closed his bar tab, met his girlfriend outside and they walked to his truck.
The girlfriend told Gallardo she did not want him to drive, but he got into the driver's side of the truck and attempted to get her in the truck by reaching over to the passenger side to pull her in, the affidavit states.
The girlfriend did not get in and Gallardo drove off without her. She then realized all her items were left in Gallardo's truck, including her keys, purse and shoes. She also did not have another ride home.
She then called Gallardo to return to the bar to pick her up.
Gallardo drove back to the bar, she got into the truck and they drove off.
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He then suddenly struck her in the chest with his fist, the affidavit states.
Gallardo reached over, placed his hand around her throat and proceeded to choke her, causing her to stop breathing, the affidavit states. He allegedly was choking her on and off while they were driving in his truck, which caused her to lose her breath multiple times.
The girlfriend asked Gallardo to stop choking her several times and to stop the truck, the affidavit states. Gallardo allegedly started to fall asleep at the wheel.
As he was falling asleep, the girlfriend decided to jump out of the truck when it came to a stop, the affidavit states. She saw a fire station and jumped out, but Gallardo also got out of the truck.
He allegedly grabbed her by her hair and started dragging her to the truck while punching her head, the affidavit states.
Two girls in the area saw the incident and approached the girlfriend to help her. Other people also arrived to help, the affidavit states.
Gallardo allegedly left the scene, but came back, got out of his truck and attempted to grab and assault the girlfriend again, the affidavit states. He allegedly punched her again and then people in the area were able to push Gallardo away from her. They held Gallardo until the police arrived.
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El Paso Police Department officers responded to the scene.
The people who came to help the girlfriend told officers they saw Gallardo grab the victim and attempt to put her inside his truck, the affidavit states. They added they saw Gallardo punch her head several times, as well as her nose and mouth.
Officers found several drag marks on the girlfriend's legs and forearms. She also had a scratch on her collarbone and severe redness to the left side of her neck, the affidavit states.
Gallardo was arrested on suspicion of assault family violence impeding breath.
He was booked July 9 into the El Paso County Jail on a $7,500 bond. He posted bail the same day, jail logs show.
Gallardo, who has been with the El Paso Police Department for nearly three years, was placed on administrative duty, police officials said.
Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police officer accused of choking, punching girlfriend
