Mena At Psychiatric Hospital

By ABC-7 Reporter Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas — Former El Paso Independent School District Trustee Sal Mena, who was arrested Friday, is back in custody and under suicide watch at a psychiatric hospital in Santa Teresa, a source close to the case tells ABC-7.

The source, who did not want to be identified, says family members found 62-year-old Sal Mena on the floor of his apartment in Central El Paso after taking several sleeping pills.

An EMS report obtained by ABC-7 confirms the information. It shows that emergency crews responded to Mena’s apartment on Monday afternoon, provided first aid and then transported him to a local hospital.

Mena was then admitted to the Peak Behavioral Center in Santa Teresa for evaluation, the source said.

An administrator at Peak Behavioral Health Services said he could not give out patient information because it is a psychiatric hospital. He also would not confirm if any U.S. marshals were at the hospital.

U.S. Deputy Marshal David Campbell confirmed Mena was in custody but would not say where he was in custody.

Mena was released Friday from the El Paso County Detention Facility. However, the U.S. Marshal’s office said Mena should not have been released.

Marshals thought Mena’s bond paperwork had been processed, but it hadn’t, and he was released after only six hours. Apodaca Bail Bonds confirms the bond is ready to be posted for Mena, but they are just waiting for Mena’s signature.

Mena was charged Friday with Mail Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Deprivation of Right to Honest Services and Making False Statements to Obtain Credit.

Once Mena is released from the hospital stay he must still sign the paperwork for his bond to make it official. Since Mena has not technically signed and agreed to the terms of the bond, he is not violating bond by being in New Mexico.