El Paso woman arrested after police say she falsely accused grocery store worker of assault

A 24–year-old woman who filed an assault report against a grocery store worker was arrested after El Paso police said their investigation revealed she was the one who actually committed the assault.

Authorities said Wednesday that Fernanda Barrera-Quezada had called police back in late August and reported that a store employee at the Albertsons at 11320 Montwood had thrown a carton of juice at her after she questioned not being able to use the express checkout lane.

Quezada alleged that she was struck in the abdomen and was hurt. The employee stated that he simply replaced a juice carton after it tipped over on the conveyor belt after which it was Quezada who threw it at him.

Store surveillance video was not accessible at that time, police said, adding that Quezada met with detectives and had provided a sworn statement attesting to the assault.

A warrant for Quezada’s arrest was obtained in recent days after a review of surveillance footage revealed the truth, police said.

Quezada was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on charges of filing a false police report and various traffic warrants. Her bond totals over $7,000.

KVIA 2019