On February 3rd, an El Paso police officer, a six-year veteran of the force, found themselves at the center of a dangerous confrontation while attending to a traffic hazard. Their quick response to a separate, escalating incident landed a man, Angel Wolfgang Trevizo, in hospital with a gunshot wound and with charges for aggravated assault on a public servant later churned against him, as detailed by the El Paso Police Department.
According to the El Paso Police Department, Trevizo exited his vehicle only to aggressively confront another driver stopped at an intersection. The officer, operating within the bounds of duty and concern, intervened to protect. What followed was defiance of orders as Trevizo re-entered his vehicle, proceeded to dangerously drive off, and in doing so, nearly struck the officer, who then discharged their weapon, injuring Trevizo. It was a split-second decision, one that could easily have not been taken to uphold the law and ensure safety.
Post-incident treatment saw Trevizo receive care from officers at the scene before being transported to a local hospital. Investigations ensued, both by the Texas Rangers and the El Paso Police Department Shooting Review Team, painting a complex picture of the events that led to Trevizo's injury and subsequent arrest. With the layers of procedural review, a warrant was issued for Trevizo, setting his bond at $100,000, as determined by Judge Myers. Once medically cleared, Trevizo was released from the hospital and booked on the charges stated.
