I-TEAM: Sheriff Has Link To Chico’s Tacos Controversy

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas — In the second protest in as many days, people in front of Chico’s Tacos were calling for equal rights on Friday.

ABC-7 first told you about a gay man and his friends after they were allegedly kicked out of the popular El Paso restaurant for kissing.

Since the incident happened, a lot has gone on, including organized protests, complaints filed to the police department and now a connection to the El Paso County Sheriff.

The I-Team now has a copy of the complaint filed by Carlos Diaz de Leon, one of the five gay men asked to leave the Eastside Chico’s Tacos.

He filed it with the El Paso Police Department’s Internal Affairs.

In the two-page document, Diaz de Leon says the police officer, who ultimately kicked them out, “rolled his eyes” at the group.

The statement ends with this quote from Diaz de Leon:

“I want to mention that I was referred by Bill Ellis and Richard Wiles to come to this office and file my complaint against the conduct of this police officer.”

Bill Ellis is a local attorney and Richard Wiles is, of course, El Paso County’s Sheriff.

Wiles, a former police chief, told us he’s never spoken directly with Diaz de Leon.

He says he advised him through a mutual friend because “whenever someone relates to me some experience with law enforcement personnel they were unhappy with, my response is to advise them to contact the appropriate office if they wish to make a formal complaint.”

Police say the officer handled the situation poorly, but still defends his actions.

The security company says the group was just too rowdy.

And Chico’s says they just want to sell tacos.

As evidenced by the protests outside Chico’s, Carlos and his friends are receiving a lot of support, but not all of the calls he’s received are positive. He says he’s gotten a number of hate calls. Look for more on the reactions Carlos has received on ABC-7 at 10.

Thegay kisscontroversy will also be the subject of ABC-7Xtra Sunday night at 10:35.Joining host Darren Hunt will be Diaz de Leon, who originally spoke out about the alleged incident. Also joininghim will be Ed Silva, a professor of sociology from El Paso Community College, andJaime Abeytia from our news partners at Newspaper Tree.