EPPD Detective arrested for allegedly raping child

Detectives with the police department’s Crimes Against Children unit arrested an off-duty police detective on a charge of Sexual Assault of a Child.

Police said the victim said she had been assaulted by the officer, a relative, February 4, 2017.

46 -year-old Juan Carlos Gardea, a 19 -year veteran of the police department, was arrested Monday night and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $ 100,000 bond.

Gardea’s mug shot will not be released at this time because it could compromise on-going investigations, police said. Police did not release the victim’s age.

Gardea has been placed on administrative leave.