BCSO deputy assaulted girlfriend and then attempted to destroy evidence, sheriff says 

A Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for the second time this year on suspicion of physically assaulting his girlfriend, Sheriff Javier Salazar announced during a news conference Monday.

John Paul Garza, 31, was charged with continuous violence against family and violation of a protective order. He was arrested early Monday morning.

Salazar said deputies were called to a San Antonio residence Sunday evening after the victim told police that Garza knocked her down onto the ground and began kicking her in the face. During the assault, her clothes became soiled with blood and Garza began to forcibly remove her clothing in an attempt to destroy the evidence, the sheriff said.

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The woman ran to a neighbor’s home to call for help. Garza fled the scene but was arrested several hours later.

The sheriff said Sunday’s assault reads like a “carbon copy” to the previous assault on the same victim in February.

According to Salazar, the termination process was underway after the first incident, and Garza has been on unpaid administrative leave for the past 10 months. When asked why Garza was still employed with BCSO, Salazar said the internal affairs process is slow and rests too heavily on the criminal proceedings before decisions are made.

READ ALSO: BSCO deputy arrested on domestic violence charges

“I would love to be able to terminate deputies like him on the spot, but due process needs to occur,” Salazar said, adding Garza will receive a second termination dismissal.

Garza has also received prior disciplinary action from the department, serving a 10-day suspension in 2013 for inappropriate force on an inmate. During the incident, Salazar said the inmate retaliated and assaulted Garza, who later lied on a polygraph test about what occurred.

Garza’s bail was set at $20,000.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway

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