A Lubbock police civilian employee was arrested Wednesday, accused of assaulting a 67-year-old man during an encounter last month at LPD’s downtown headquarters.
The Lubbock Police Department’s civilian Sex Offender Registration Coordinator, Daniel Diaz-Gonzalez, was arrested on a felony charge of injury to the elderly following an investigation into the incident July 24, Lubbock Police Chief Seth Herman said during a news conference Wednesday.
According to a police news release, just after 10 a.m. July 24, an assault occurred in the lobby of LPD headquarters.
Herman said the victim in this case is a registered sex offender, 67-year-old Steven Sardinta. Sardinta was at headquarters for a routine check-in with Diaz-Gonzalez when the incident occurred. A complaint was filed by Sardinta on July 24.
After receiving the complaint and conducting an initial review, an investigation by the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit began on Aug. 5.
Based on the allegations and after review of the circumstances and evidence, Diaz-Gonzalez was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 6.
Following further investigation, the case was presented to the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office on Aug. 11 and a warrant was issued for Diaz-Gonzalez’s arrest just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The arrest took place at LPD headquarters without incident just after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Diaz-Gonzalez was transported to the Lubbock County Detention Center and booked on a felony charge of Injury to the Elderly.
An internal investigation by the Office of Professional Standards is ongoing along with the criminal investigation.
Diaz-Gonzalez was first hired by the LPD in February 2018 and was later assigned as the department’s civilian Sex Offender Registration Coordinator in July 2023.
Other information about the circumstances leading to the confrontation were not immediately clear as the investigation is ongoing.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock police emoloyee arrested, accused of assaulting sex offender