texas

South Texas Police Chief Fired Over His Domestic Violence Arrest

A South Texas police chief has been fired following his domestic violence arrest.

The Monitor reports Hidalgo's city manager said in a letter that Rodolfo "Rudy" Espinoza's termination was effective Tuesday, noting Espinoza's Dec. 27 arrest on a misdemeanor charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member was a contract violation.

Espinoza's attorneys deny the allegations, saying the probable cause affidavit had factual inaccuracies. They say the alleged victim was Espinoza's girlfriend, not common-law wife.

The Hidalgo County sheriff's office had no comment on the inaccuracy allegation. District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. says the alleged victim told his office she doesn't want Espinoza prosecuted but he says there's been no decision on how they'll proceed.

Espinoza had been on suspension since October as the city investigated allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct and potential conflicts of interest.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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