An off-duty El Paso police officer arrested on a drunken driving charge allegedly crashed into a roundabout boulder and had his wife pick him up to take him home before officers arrived, court documents state.
Jasson Medina Rivera, 29, was arrested on Friday, April 17, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, El Paso court records show.
El Paso Police Department spokeswoman Stephanie Shields confirmed Medina Rivera is an El Paso police officer. Rivera was not on duty at the time. He has been “relieved of his duties,” meaning he was “removed from active service while an administrative process is pending,” Shields said.
Medina Rivera has been with the department for about a year and five months, Shields said.
No attorney is listed in court records for Medina Rivera.
El Paso officer allegedly crashes into boulder driving from bar
El Paso police responded to a hit-and-run call about 4:40 a.m. on Friday, April 17, at a roundabout at Ralph Seitsinger and Mike Price streets near Cactus Trails Elementary in far East El Paso, a complaint affidavit states.
Officers found a 2025 GMC Sierra Denali at the scene of the crash, checked the license plates and identified the owner as Medina Rivera.
The officers went to Medina Rivera’s house to question him. Medina Rivera admitted to officers that he was the only person driving the GMC. The officers noted in the affidavit that Medina Rivera “demonstrated signs of intoxication,” including red, bloodshot, glossy eyes and an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.
Medina Rivera said he had left Big Foot Tavern, which was about five miles from his house, about 2 a.m. and decided to call his wife as he drove home. He used the vehicle’s touchscreen to call his wife.
He added he was “distracted with the screen” and did not see a roundabout in the roadway, the affidavit states. Medina Rivera crashed into a boulder at the roundabout.
Medina Rivera called his wife immediately after the crash. She picked him up and took him to their house, the affidavit states.
Officer is a “babysitter” when it comes to drinking
Officers asked Medina Rivera if he had any alcohol that night. Medina Rivera replied he had two Coors Banquet tall boys beer between 9 p.m. to 1:50 a.m., the affidavit states.
Medina Rivera told officers he “is a babysitter,” meaning he consumed the beers at an “extremely slow rate,” the affidavit states.
Officers asked Medina Rivera if he was familiar with the roads between the bar and his house. Medina Rivera was able to give the officers “street by street” directions off the top of his head, the affidavit states.
Medina Rivera agreed to a field sobriety test, which he allegedly failed. He also agreed to provide a breath sample.
He was taken to the EPPD Upper East Regional Command Center, where he took two breathalyzer tests. The results were a .113 and .115 blood alcohol content levels, the affidavit states. The legal limit in Texas is .08.
Medina Rivera was arrested and booked into the El Paso County jail on Friday, April 17, jail records show. He posted a $2,500 bond and was released 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: El Paso officer charged with DWI says wife picked him up, records show
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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