An Austin Police Department officer, identified as Joshua "Josh" Lugo, is facing charges after being arrested in New Braunfels for an altercation involving family violence. According to a report by KVUE, the incident occurred on September 28 when New Braunfels Police responded to a disturbance call on Tupelo Tank Drive around 5 p.m.
Upon arrival, law enforcement determined a physical confrontation had taken place between a man and a woman, with the man—subsequently identified as the 41-year-old APD officer—being the aggressor, Lugo was taken into custody without further incident and has been charged with assault bodily injury/family violence. The Austin Police Department has acknowledged Lugo's arrest, stating they are collaborating with the New Braunfels Police Department in the investigation, and following protocol, they have placed the officer on restricted duty pending an internal administrative review.
In an effort to uphold the integrity of the active investigation details regarding the circumstances of the conflict have not been widely disclosed, according to a statement provided by APD to KXAN. The statement also revealed that no additional information would be released at the current time.
While Lugo has been placed on restricted duty, the Austin Police Department's internal process is grappling with the ramifications of his arrest and the pending legal proceedings with the Guadalupe County Jail having processed Lugo's arrest, APD remains in coordination with New Braunfels Police to facilitate a thorough investigation that could shed light on the broader implications of the incident for the department and the community it serves.
