Over the weekend, an incident occurred involving a resident and Horizon City police officers that led to the arrest of the individual on charges including assault on a peace officer. On January 3, Enrique Villegas was found on the sidewalk by officers responding to a welfare check near Eastlake Blvd. and Darrington Rd. The Horizon City Police Department detailed the event in a social media post, noting Villegas appeared intoxicated and reported feeling weak due to a combination of insulin intake, alcohol consumption, and lack of food, factors exacerbated by his management of Type 2 diabetes.
The officers' attempt to ensure Villegas's well-being was met with initial resistance. The Horizon Fire Department and ELITE Medical personnel were summoned out of an abundance of caution, offering hospital transport to Villegas, who initially declined. The report from Horizon City PD further explained that Villegas agreed to the medical transport later on, but during the process, he attempted to further consume alcohol and became combative when officers intervened, presumably for safety reasons. This escalation led to his arrest after resisting and assaulting an officer.
Facing charges of assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, search, or transport, and public intoxication, Villegas's case stands as a reminder of the critical need to eat regularly when managing medical conditions like diabetes, understand how alcohol can impact health and judgment, and the importance of cooperating with first responders. The police department statement appreciates the combined efforts of all personnel involved in prioritizing safety for everyone concerned.
