POSTED: Friday, July 22, 2011 - 3:44pm
UPDATED: Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 3:41pm
EL PASO- Today police Chief Greg Allen says he disputes the grand jury's findings regarding the incident that took place here more than a year ago.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and has been put on administrative duty pending the outcome of that criminal investigation. Police tell us last April, Officer Gonzalez and a female officer were off-duty and stopped for traffic in an unmarked car when they say 20-year-old Andres Elias Cortez rear-ended them.
The two officers got out of their car and that's when they say Cortez tried to flee and hit the female officer with his car pinning her against a wall. Police say Gonzalez told Cortez to stop and get out, but Cortez didn't, so the officer shot him in his neck. Cortez is now paralyzed from the incident.
However, Chief Allen says he disputes any findings of wrongdoing on the part of his officers, and says he fears this will have a chilling effect when it comes to officers defending themselves in the field.
The Cortez family has just released a statement saying, "We are pleased with the announcement" of the indictment and "we look forward to getting justice" for Cortez.