The head of the Doña Ana County Detention Center is charged with assaulting a Las Cruces Police officer, but disputes and plans to fight the allegations, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting.
Chris Barela, 42, was arrested Saturday night and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, the newspaper reported. He was arrested, taken to the jail he runs, and released after posting $1,000 bail.
County spokesman Jess Williams said Manager Brian Haines hasn’t yet made a determination on whether the arrest will affect Barela’s work status. He said officers were called to the home on a report of a domestic disturbance and “an emotional situation escalated,” the Sun-News reported.