Published: May 13, 2008 05:01 pm            

Partygoers threaten police, two arrested

By Matt Smith

msmith@trcle.com



A Saturday-night party in which about 20 attendees threatened Cleburne police officers led to two arrests on multiple charges. An officer held the crowd off at gunpoint and threatened to shoot one of the men who was later arrested.

Police responded to the 1700 block of North Wilhite at 12:31 a.m. after receiving complaints of loud noise and yelling in the street. Officers arrived to find loud music blasting from a parked car with a woman and an infant inside. A man, Ben Galvan, 23, of Cleburne, was leaning into the window talking to the woman but began walking away when police arrived, according to reports.

Officer Kevin Dupre chased after Galvan when he ignored commands to stop, according to reports. Dupre grabbed at Galvan’s hands to cuff him but Galvan jerked away. Dupre and another officer took Galvan to the ground but could not immediately cuff him because Galvan held on to one of the cuffs with his right hand, according to reports. Attempts to detain Galvan lasted about four minutes, until officers pepper sprayed and managed to cuff him, according to reports.

Galvan was taken into custody on charges of resisting arrest and evading detention.

While officers attempted to cuff Galvan, about 20 people in the backyard of the home yelled, cussed and threatened police on scene, according to reports. Several attempted to climb a backyard fence and others exited a carport door and attempted to approach and surround the officers. Dupre held them off at gunpoint and commanded them to stay back while officer Robert Thompson handcuffed Galvan, according to reports.

Another man present, Mauro Carrizales, 19, of Cleburne, stood behind a vehicle brandishing a large metal club the way a person would hold a baseball bat, according to reports. Carrizales continued yelling threats and urged others present to help him approach the officers. He then slowly began approaching Dupre and commanded him to let Galvan go, according to reports.

When Carrizales came within 15 feet, Dupre checked to make sure no one was behind Carrizales and prepared to fire, according to reports. Dupre told Carrizales he would shoot if he continued to approach.

The sirens and lights of arriving police cars caused Carrizales to turn and run back into the house. Several others followed his lead and locked the front door behind them.

Most at the scene fled out the back door or backyard of the residence. Police kicked the front door in, however, and found Carrizales in a bedroom. Police employed a Taser after Carrizales resisted their efforts to handcuff him. He was taken into custody on charges of resisting arrest, aggravated assault of a police officer and hindering apprehension.

Carrizales has since been released from the Johnson County Corrections Center on a $27,000 bond. Galvan has also been released on a $1,500 bond.

        

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