El Paso Police Department officer arrested, accused of stealing cash at crash scene

An El Paso police officer has been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands in cash taken from inside a vehicle following a hit-and-run crash, police officials said.

Officer Ruben Morales, 25, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 31, on a charge of theft over $2,500, a state jail felony, following an investigation into allegations that arose in December, police said.

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The process has started to fire Morales, who has been with the El Paso Police Department for two years, according to a police news statement.

The theft allegedly occurred on Dec. 13, when Morales responded to a hit-and-run crash in the 6600 block of Westfield Drive near Canutillo High School in the Upper Valley, police officials said.

An investigation began after the vehicle owner reported that cash, which had been inside a locked glove box and a small bag inside the vehicle, was missing, police said. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Morales.

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On Wednesday, Morales was booked into the El Paso County jail and released on a $5,000 surety bond via the Fast Track Booking, a program available to the public who surrender and have bail arrangements prepared. The booking, processing and release can be as quick as 45 minutes.

"The El Paso Police Department reaffirms its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within its ranks. Any actions inconsistent with these standards will be thoroughly investigated andaddressed accordingly," the department said in a statement.

Nine El Paso police officers arrested, some charges dismissed

The theft case was at least the ninth El Paso police officer arrested in over a year on allegations ranging from rape to supervisors accused of requesting sexual favors from female subordinates.

In December, Lt. John Edgar Surface and a Sgt. Adan Chavez, who were supervisors in the Crime Scene Unit, were arrested on charges of official oppression linked to the sexual harassment of female officers. The case is pending in court.

In July, EPPD officials announced the arrests of five officers in three other cases.

Officers Enrique David Mendoza and Aaron Poblano were accused of trying to cover up an off-duty hit-and-run crash after Officer Isaac Menchaca allegedly crashed into a parked SUV on Tularosa Avenue after leaving a bar. The three officers were arrested.

Defense attorneys for the men countered that the incident was "a big misunderstanding" that "got blown up" because it involved police officers. Court records show that the misdemeanor interference charges against Mendoza and Poblano were dismissed after they completed a pre-trial diversion program. The case against Menchaca is pending.

Another off-duty officer, Joshua Anthony Gallardo, was arrested on a charge of domestic violence after a crowd detained him when he was allegedly beating his girlfriend following a night of drinking at a bar in the Montwood area of the far East Side. The case is pending in court.

Guadalupe Sosa, the fifth officer whose arrest was announced in July, is accused of raping his then-girlfriend during a fit of jealousy back in 2018. The case is pending in court.

Police locker room video case dismissed

In December 2022, Officer Gilberto Hilario Silva was arrested for allegedly hiding a cellphone to record video of female officers undressing in their locker room at the Westside Regional Command Center, among other allegations, including indecency with a child by exposure and leaking information from a police report regarding the arrest of a family member.

In November, the charges of attempt to commit invasive visual recording for the locker room incident and indecency with a child were dismissed, according to court records. Silva pleaded guilty to a computer security breach charge and was given two years of deferred adjudication probation with 200 hours of community service.

Deferred adjudication allows a case to be dismissed if probation is completed.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police officer arrested in theft case, other cop cases dropped