Man’s death in I-10 struggle during El Paso police arrest under investigation
The death of a man after a struggle with El Paso police officers while being arrested on Interstate 10 is under investigation.
Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez, 30, was pronounced dead at Del Sol Medical Center after becoming unresponsive on Sunday, July 13, during what was initially a call of a “traffic hazard” regarding a pedestrian on the freeway, the El Paso Police Department said in a statement issued on Monday, July 14.
“The El Paso Police Department understands that this situation is deeply upsetting to many in our community, and we are committed to ensuring a full and transparent review of the incident,” the department stated. The author of the statement is not named.
The incident was captured on cell phone video shared on social media. The eastbound lanes of I-10 were closed for several hours on Sunday during the investigation at the scene.
About 10 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a call that a man was attempting to jump over a barrier on the eastbound lanes of the freeway near Yarbrough Drive, police stated.
Hernandez “became uncooperative and resisted officers’ commands. A Taser deployment was ineffective, and assisting off-duty officer and a witness helped restrain him due to his combative behavior,” EPPD stated.
Hernandez “became unresponsive,” and police started CPR. He was transported to Del Sol Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police stated. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
The incident is under internal review by detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit and the Texas Rangers of the Texas Department of Public Safety, as is standard in deaths during police interactions.
“The El Paso Police Department is working to provide accurate and timely information as it becomes available,” the department added. “We respectfully ask the public for patience as the investigative process unfolds. We are committed to transparency and accountability and will provide updates as soon as we are able to share verified facts.”
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Man dies after arrest by El Paso police on I-10 freeway
