Police To Fire Cop Who Allegedly Stole From Newlyweds At Reception

El Paso Police are in the process of firing one of its officers after he allegedly stole money and gift cards from a wedding couple at a reception this weekend at Bebe’s Hall in East El Paso.

Alberto Madrid, an 18-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department, has been charged with aggravated robbery. Madrid earns $66,329 a year according to public records and is a sergeant who was recently assigned to a station on the West Side.

The El Paso Police Department said Madrid was working as an off-duty security officer for the reception at Bebe’s Hall when the incident allegedly occurred.

According to the police affidavit, Madrid was seen leaving the hall with the gift box and he returned empty-handed. He then drove to a parking lot across the event hall. Several relatives of the wedding party followed Madrid to ask him about the missing money.

One of the witnesses, Jose “Joey” Zaragoza, along with several family members attempted to talk to Madrid but he refused to talk to them, according to the affidavit.

Jose Zaragoza told ABC-7 in an exclusive interview that Madrid then accelerated his truck toward him and his brother. “I pushed my brother out of the way and I didn’t have time to get out of the way so I jumped up and got on top of the truck.”

Another witness who did not want to be identified told ABC-7 Madrid drove away from the parking lot onto Vista del Sol. He said Zaragoza was holding on to the top of Madrid’s truck for about a mile and a half at a high speed.

That witness told ABC-7 Zaragoza was “dangling left and right, trying to hold on”.

Zaragoza was finally thrown off the the truck’s hood at the intersection of Vista de Oro. He was taken to an area hospital for his injuries and is now recovering from a concussion.

Viviana Macias, owner of Bebe’s Hall, told ABC-7 Madrid has worked with the hall for at least eight years. She said he has always been professional and there were never any complaints against him.

Madrid bonded out of the El Paso County Detention Facility Monday afternoon on one charge of aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $5,000.

Detective Mike Baranyay, an EPPD spokesman, told ABC-7 that the investigation is ongoing. He explained they charged Madrid with aggravated robbery because that is a first degree felony.

Some viewers wondered why Madrid was not charged with attempted murder in light of the accusations against him. Det. Baranyay said aggravated robbery is actually a more severe charge. Attempted murder is a second degree felony and more difficult to prove in court.

“Even if we were able to prove that his intent was to do such a thing, the higher charge would still remain the aggravated robbery which would hold the higher penalty, and possibly more jail time,” said Det. Baranyay.

Madrid has avoided jail time on three other occasions throughout his career. According to county records, in 2002 Madrid was charged with misdemeanor assault. That charge was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Madrid has also been charged with two DWI’s: one in 2002 and another in 2006. He cleared one of the DWI’s by attending a pretrial program.

Det. Baranyay stressed the allegations against Madrid are an isolated incident and people should not judge the entire department for one individual’s actions. Zaragoza agreed. “I still admire and respect everything police officers do” Zaragoza told ABC-7. “(Madrid) disrespected the uniform he wore.”