Shopper arrested after chaotic scene erupts at Northeast El Paso Walmart on Thanksgiving

1 shopper arrested after chaotic scene erupts at Northeast El Paso Walmart Thanksgiving night

https://www.facebook.com/aarzaga1/videos/1057683450970056/

An El Paso Police officer working security at the Walmart was assaulted during the scrum for TV sets.

Adolfo E. Arzaga captured the wild rush for the TVs on his cell phone and posted it to his Facebook page. It has more than close to 10 million views in under 24 hours.

The officer, a 3-year-veteran of the police department, was employed in an off-duty capacity by Walmart to provide security during the sale.

Several other officers also were working at the Dyer store as off-duty security.

Shortly after 6 p.m., as employees were removing the wrappings that secured a group of TV sets, the crowd began to grab at the televisions.

During the melee, one of the officers saw an elderly woman at the bottom of the pile with a TV, allegedly being stepped on by 23-year-old Ruben Garcia.

Garcia was allegedly trying to take the TV set away from the crying woman who was asking for help.

Police say the officer approached the group and tried to pull Garcia away from the woman.

Garcia refused to let go of the television and allegedly began to struggle with the officer.

Police say Garcia struck the officer several times in the chest as the officer gave verbal commands to Garcia.

The officer, whose name was not released by police, was assisted by a second officer in gaining control of Garcia and arresting him.

Garcia was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a charge of Assault on a Public Servant. His bond was set at: $5,000.

Garcia’s booking photo can be seen below.