[NM] Officer Vargas allowed to bail right out of jail for $2,000 after his wife's face is beaten

...[Tucumcari Police Officer] Vargas straddled her again and began hitting her on the face. “A third party witnessed the assault and called the police"...

OFFICER ARRESTED ON ASSAULT CHARGES

Quay County Sun

Thomas Garcia

Mar 7 2011

[Excerpts] State police say a Tucumcari police officer assaulted his wife over text messages to another man. Robert Vargas, a four year veteran of the Tucumcari Police Department was arraigned Monday morning in the Quay County Magistrate Court on the charge of aggravated assault and battery of a household member. Vargas pleaded not guilty... "Vargas was placed on paid administrative leave, effective Monday,” said Tucumcari Police Chief Jason Braziel. New Mexico State Police Lt. Cleo Baker, said Vargas turned himself at 3:25 a.m., Saturday at the city police department. He was taken to the Quay County Detention Center, Baker said, and QCDC officials said he bailed out that morning on a $2,000 cash bond... “Tucumcari police officers were on scene but the case was turned over to state police as one of their officers were involved in the case,” said NMSP officer Marcus Lopez... Lopez said the victim told him Vargas, who she identified as her husband, pushed her to the floor of their bedroom, straddled her and began to punch her several times. He said the victim told him she was then moved to the bed where Vargas straddled her again and began hitting her on the face. “A third party witnessed the assault and called the police,” Lopez said in court documents. Lopez said he photographed bruising on both arms, her nose was swelling, she had cuts on two right hand fingers and a large red mark on her forehead... [Full article here]

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