Socorro police officers leave jail in oppression probe

Four West Texas police officers have been charged with official oppression over a May arrest.

Socorro police Lt. Jose Alvarez, Sgt. Refugio Orta and Officer Javier Varela were freed Thursday night after a judge lowered their bond and ordered them to surrender their badges. They were arrested when Texas Rangers and state troopers raided a Socorro police substation Tuesday.

Information made public in court indicates the charges are tied to a May 23 arrest by Varela and Officer Israel Delgado outside a convenience store. Probable cause questions have been raised.

Delgado bonded out of jail late Tuesday. Varela was also charged with aggravated perjury and tampering with a government record.

Defense attorney Patrick Lara says the charges will be fought and the officers want to keep their jobs.