An El Paso man arrested on suspicion of using a drone to stalk his ex-girlfriend allegedly told deputies, “I’ll be back, the laws are pointless,” an affidavit states.
Cristobal Gonzalez, 26, was arrested on suspicion of using a drone to track his ex-girlfriend on Saturday, May 23, at a home in the 600 block of Paseo Modesto Drive near Eastlake Boulevard and Darrington Road in Horizon City.
He is facing one count each of stalking, theft of property and criminal trespass. No attorney is named in court records for Gonzalez.
An El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputy details the allegations against Gonzalez and claims the suspect allegedly threatened to continue to stalk his ex-girlfriend in a criminal complaint affidavit obtained by the El Paso Times.
Alleged victim is CBP officer, planned to use gun to defend herself, son
A deputy responded to a report of a family violence in progress call about 7:40 a.m. at the Horizon City home.
As the deputy drove to the scene, the deputy was alerted that the victim was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who told 911 dispatchers that she had a gun and would use it if Gonzalez entered her house, a criminal complaint affidavit states.
The El Paso Times does not name possible victims of domestic violence.
The deputy arrived at the home and did not find Gonzalez. The deputy wrote in the affidavit that the ex-girlfriend was “hesitant to answer the front door because she believed the defendant (Gonzalez) was still outside the residence.”
The ex-girlfriend was “wearing her CBP duty uniform and crying hysterically” when the deputy arrived. She said she and Gonzalez had a child together, but were no longer in a dating relationship and Gonzalez does not live with her.
The ex-girlfriend told the deputy that she had left work, picked up her son in West El Paso and drove home. She parked her car in her garage when she saw Gonzalez parked in his 2020 gray Cadillac CT5 outside her home.
The garage door closed before Gonzalez could get out of his car and enter her home. Unable to enter the garage, Gonzalez went to the front door and knocked several times.
Gonzalez allegedly forcibly removed a Ring doorbell camera from an outside wall of the home. The ex-girlfriend called 911 after she lost the video feed from the doorbell camera, because “she feared the defendant (Gonzalez) would attempt to enter the residence and cause bodily injury,” the deputy wrote in the affidavit.
The ex-girlfriend grabbed her son and barricaded themselves inside her bedroom. She grabbed her CBP-issued duty weapon in case Gonzalez forced his way into the home, the affidavit states. The victim told deputies that there is an “extensive history of family violence and criminal trespassing” involving her and Gonzalez.
The affidavit lists two reports of incidents involving the former couple. The first incident was a domestic violence call on March 3, which was “cleared verbal only,” the affidavit states. No further information is provided. The second incident was a domestic criminal trespass, resulting in warrants issued to Gonzalez.
The ex-girlfriend emailed the doorbell camera footage to the deputy. The footage showed Gonzalez arriving at the house and removing the Ring doorbell camera, according to the affidavit.
‘I’ll be back, the laws are pointless.’
Deputies went to Gonzalez’s house about 8:15 a.m. in the 12000 block of Powick Drive near Horizon City and found his car there. They saw a white drone on the front passenger seat, the affidavit states.
The deputies went up to the house to talk to Gonzalez, who immediately began emptying his pockets and told the deputies, “I already know,” the affidavit states. The deputies placed Gonzalez in handcuffs and placed him in their patrol vehicle.
A deputy read Gonzalez his Miranda Rights, to which he replied, “I wish to plead the 5th,” the affidavit states.
Gonzalez was taken to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Peter J. Herrera Patrol Station and placed in a holding cell.
Gonzalez, in an unsolicited statement, told deputies, “I’ll be back, the laws are pointless,” the affidavit states.
Video allegedly shows Gonzalez using a drone
The deputy reviewed the videos the ex-girlfriend sent him. One of the videos showed Gonzalez getting out of his car, walking toward the front sidewalk, picking up a white drone with its propellers still spinning, the affidavit states.
Gonzalez is allegedly seen grabbing the drone and throwing it inside his car.
“The drone was not visible on the sidewalk prior to the defendant’s arrival,” the deputy wrote in the affidavit. “Based on the totality of the circumstances, it is believed the drone may have been used by the defendant (Gonzalez) to surveil or stalk the victim.”
The ex-girlfriend told deputies that because of Gonzalez’s repeated offenses and his escalating aggressive behavior, she feared the situation would continue to escalate, the affidavit states. She requested that an emergency protective order be filed.
Court records do not show if a judge granted a protective order.
Gonzalez released from jail two days after incident
Gonzalez was booked into the El Paso County jail on Saturday, May 23, on suspicion of stalking, theft of property and criminal trespass. His bond was originally set at $27,000.
An El Paso County magistrate judge granted a bond reduction request during a Monday, May 25, bond hearing, court records show. Court records do not state which magistrate judge presided over the bond reduction hearing.
The bond was lowered to $15,000. Gonzalez posted bail and was released from jail the same day, jail logs show.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ‘I’ll be back:’ El Paso man allegedly stalking ex told deputies
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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