EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office launched its first-ever Driving While Intoxicated Task Force and combined with other El Paso area law-enforcement agencies to make 36 arrests this Easter weekend, the Sheriff’s Office said.
El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte launched the DWI Task Force in response to one of the most frequently raised concerns he heard during his campaign, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The weekend operation took place on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19. The task force consisted of deputies from the Sheriff’s Office; the Horizon Police Department, under guidance of Chief Marco Vargas; and County Constable Offices for Precinct 1 (Contstable Frank Almada); Precinct 4 (Constable Luis “Louie” Aguilar); and Precinct 6 (Constable Javier Garcia).
Together, the agenices made 36 arrests over the two days, with total aggregated bonds of $220,000.
Charges included:
- 19 driving while intoxicated
- 3 DWI with child under 15 years old
- 2 DWI with open container
- 1 DWI, second offense
- 1 DWI, third or more offense
- 4 DWI with blood alcohol content greater than or equal to 0.15
- 6 possession of illegal narcotics
- 2 evading arrest or detention
- 1 escape
- 1 fugitive from justice (Arizona)
- 1 impersonating a public servant
- 1 resisting arrest, search, or transport
- 1 assault on a peace officer
- 1 minor in possession of tobacco
- 1 open container
- 1 unlawful carrying of a weapon
These efforts were carried out by officers working overtime, as the Sheriff’s Office does not currently have a full-time DWI Task Force, the agency said.
Ugarte plans to formally request funding from Commissioners Court during the next fiscal year to establish a permanent, full-time DWI Task Force dedicated to year-round enforcement and prevention, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“This task force reflects what we can achieve when local law enforcement agencies unite behind a common goal — keeping our residents safe,” Ugarte said. “The community asked us to act on DWIs, and we listened. These arrests send a clear message: If you drive impaired in El Paso County, you will be held accountable. We’re just getting started.”
The DWI Task Force will continue operations throughout the year, focusing on high-risk areas and peak times to maximize impact, the Sheriff’s Office said.
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