EPPD Officer Arrested, Allegedly Assaulted Girlfriend

EL PASO, TX. – A member of the Sun City’s Finest is arrested and charged with assault.

Officials tell ABC-7 37-year old Peter Olivarez was arrested at work, at the West side Regional Command Center. Officials also say that Officer Olivarez is still on the job, but re-assigned.

A girlfriend made the allegation of assault, a criminal complaint was filed, and then police investigators made a determination that there was probable cause for the arrest.

The assault reportedly took place Saturday, April 8th, and was investigated by a special investigations group at the police department. The accusation, according to Police Chief Richard Wiles, is assaulting a girlfriend.

According to jail records, Officer Olivarez was released on a $2,500 bond the same day of the arrest. The arrest occurred last Tuesday, when police officer was picked up at the Westside Regional Command Center.

At the suspect’s apartment in west El Paso Friday evening, a woman who claims to be the police officer’s wife answered the door. When asked about her husband’s arrest, the woman told ABC-7, “I don’t know anything.”

The suspect’s picture is not displayed on the family violence website published by the police department.

Open records law prohibits photos of active police officers from release until an indictment or a case is filed in court.

Officer Olivarez is an 11-year veteran with the police department.