POSTED: Monday, August 8, 2011 - 5:54pm
UPDATED: Monday, February 27, 2012 - 2:20pm
EL PASO - Former Miss El Paso USA Lorena Tavera is under arrest for theft in a local shoplifting case.
Police responded to the Dillards store at 750 Sunland Park on Friday night.
Investigators say Tavera stole a shirt valued at $69.
Tavera's professional background includes runway modeling, freeze modeling, spokes modeling, commercials, pictorials and print work.
The 21-year-old captured the crown of Miss El Paso Teen USA 2006; where she went on to place top 15 at the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant. In 2008 Lorena won the title of Miss El Paso USA and placed 6th at Miss Texas USA.
When NewsChannel 9 reached Tavera over the phone Monday morning, she said, "I'm going to contact my lawyer. This story can't be run. The story is wrong first of all. It's been misconstrued and it's twisted, so I need to contact my lawyer... I can't talk to you until I talk to my lawyer."
Police said Tavera also had two outstanding Municipal Court traffic warrants.
Jail records show Tavera bonded out of jail on Saturday.