Donna police officer charged with public intoxication

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An off-duty Donna police officer was arrested last month after the South Padre Island Police Department received a call about “an intoxicated male who was being aggressive and mentioned having a firearm.”

Officers arrested Eric Mauricio Perez, 42, of Weslaco at 11:52 p.m. on Nov. 27.

“South Padre Island Police Officers responded to the Isla Grand Hotel located at 500 Padre Boulevard in reference to a disturbance involving an intoxicated male who was being aggressive and mentioned having a firearm,” according to a summary of the incident released by the city of South Padre Island. “After investigation, the male subject was placed under arrest and charged with Public Intoxication.”

The charge is a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $500 or less.

Perez pleaded no contest. He couldn’t be reached for comment at a phone number listed in public records.

South Padre Island police Chief Claudine O’Carroll didn’t respond to questions about what prompted the call and whether Perez actually had a weapon.

Perez joined the Donna Police Department in 2008, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act. He served on the department SWAT team and received a promotion to detective in 2015.

Donna assigned Perez to a federal task force.

“Detective Perez is an extremely dedicated and motivated individual who performs his job in a manner beyond the call of duty,” Steven S. Whipple, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration supervisor, wrote in a February 2021 memo. “Detective Perez works effectively with state and federal law enforcement counterparts and the United States Attorney’s Office.”

The memo thanked Perez for his assistance with a “Priority Target/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force” investigation.

“Detective Perez is an asset to the DEA McAllen DO,” Whipple wrote, referencing the McAllen District Office, “and his distinctive accomplishments are a great credit to him and the Donna Police Department.”

It’s not clear what, if any, disciplinary action Donna took after Perez was arrested. Donna police Chief Gilbert Guerrero declined to comment.

In response to a public information request submitted on Dec. 4 — seven days after Perez was arrested — Donna responded that no disciplinary records existed.

Perez, however, did apologize to someone after his arrest.

WhatsApp messages released under the Public Information Act show Perez texted someone he called “boss” on Nov. 28.

Donna redacted that person’s name from the documents. He or she apparently works for the federal government.

“Like I’ve told people in the past, you made a mistake, you learn from it and you move on!” the person wrote to Perez. “Let me know if you need anything!”

“Thanks Boss,” Perez responded. “Felt like s--- all day. Ashamed and embarrassed. Def a hard lesson.”