Court documents released this week say an El Paso traffic stop turned violent when officers punched a 26-year-old man during his April 5 arrest, leaving his face swollen and bruised. The man, identified in the filings as Daniel Rodriguez Jr., was taken into custody after a traffic stop in west El Paso that officers say escalated into a struggle. The newly filed affidavit and booking records have put the case under local scrutiny.
According to KTSM 9 News, an affidavit says an officer saw a pickup failing to stop at the intersection of Wyoming and Cotton and that the truck’s traffic signal was flashing red. Officers reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol and observing signs of intoxication, and the affidavit says Rodriguez resisted, so “due to (Rodriguez) resisting arrest, he was punched on the face several times to gain control and compliance.” The document also says officers found two open cans of Modelo and that Rodriguez provided breath samples registering 0.147 and 0.158 blood-alcohol concentrations.
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