Mother of kids in viral video, alleged Ascarate burglary, says CPS is investigating her

The mother of two teenagers involved in an alleged break-in at Ascarate Park said her sons are in juvenile detention and Child Protective Services is investigating.

Elizabeth Flores, a 33-year-old mother of six, including one adult daughter and one special needs child, said the video surveillance shows her sons at the scene, and she cannot deny their involvement, adding “the kids deserve what they got.”

“I don’t work, I’m always with them, so I don’t know why these people are saying ‘where are these moms at,” Flores said. “It’s just that this incident at Ascarate Park, it happened at 11 or 12 p.m. Who is going to stay up thinking – how was I going to know they were going to go with their friends and do stuff.”

El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles told ABC-7 that around 10:50 p.m. on July 2, 2018, someone broke into the toll both in the entrance to Ascarate Park where people pay for parking. Several individuals burglarized the booth and broke a window with a rock, Wiles said, in addition to stealing a set of keys.

Investigators noticed some of the individuals seen in surveillance video breaking into the toll booth on July 2nd, are the same ones seen in the viral video involving an El Paso police officer pointing a gun at group off children. That video was posted on social media on July 7, 2018.

Flores said her boys were not directly involved in the alleged incident, adding they are “followers” hanging out with a group of older kids.

She said county personnel is also to blame: “The people from Ascarate – because my kids used to go swimming – one of the people inside let them go swim at night.” The El Paso County Parks and Recreation department did not fully address the claim, other than reiterating business hours, and damage caused at the aquatics center.

“One of them was crying,” Flores said, regarding her recent visit to the juvenile detention center to see her sons. “He was like ‘mommy, I did wrong.’ The smallest one, he said that he was just with them. I heard that they’re just going to get the monitor, and I’m OK with that.”

The boys are due to be released in the upcoming days, according to Flores. She said punishments are in order. “No friends allowed at all, and I’m taking her phones away,” Flores said.

Flores told ABC-7 Child Protective services is investigating her for possible neglect

“The juvie gave me a paper about them having CPS,” Flores said, explaining the investigation was on the grounds of neglect. “I don’t see where the kids are being neglected, they left at the round at 11:12 p.m., you know, it’s not me that was like ‘oh yeah, go ahead boys, leave.’ No, I take care my kids.”

Flores said she’s confident in her parenting ability, and that the trouble her kids get into is because of older influences. “They’re behaved kids, they just — it’s just their friends.” She said. “I can’t control the big kids.”

The ABC-7 I-team did a search on criminal case records. It showed that Elizabeth Flores faced several charges of endangerment or leaving with intent to return in 2013. She received deferred adjudication for the charges.

Flores then said there are not many recreational options for kids in the surrounding area and that her boys often have to travel a far distance to a nearby skate park. She later appeared to to contradict herself, listing off the various activities they take park in near the neighborhood.

The six juvenile suspects taken into custody by the sheriff’s office in connection to the Ascarate Park toll booth burglary include:

Male, 12, who lives in the 6700 block of Alameda Male, 13, who lives in the 7900 block of Knights Male, 14, who lives in the 6700 block of Alameda Female, 16, who lives in the 100 block of New Orleans Male 12, who lives in the 7900 block of Gateway East Female, 12, who lives in the 7900 block of Gateway East

A seventh juvenile linked to the burglary at Ascarate Park was already in custody on a Theft of a Vehicle charge, the sheriff said.

The juveniles were taken to the juvenile probation department.

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