An officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been charged with multiple felony counts following an alleged domestic incident, The Los Angeles Times reported. Anthony Guiterrez, 30, faces four felony charges, including one count of kidnapping and another of assault with a firearm, stemming from a reported encounter with a woman described as his romantic partner. Additionally, Guiterrez has been charged with two counts of child abuse, under conditions or circumstances alleged to be likely to cause great bodily injury or death. These charges were filed Wednesday, the same day Guiterrez entered a plea of not guilty to all counts in a San Fernando courtroom. The accusations against the LAPD officer reportedly originate from an incident that occurred at a San Fernando Valley residence.
According to two law enforcement sources familiar with the case, as cited by The Los Angeles Times, the alleged incident involved Guiterrez reportedly forcing his romantic partner out of their shared San Fernando Valley home at gunpoint. This occurred during what was described as a domestic dispute. The officer was arrested Monday after officers responded to a 911 call. One of the law enforcement sources informed the newspaper that the woman involved in the incident made the emergency call. The arrest was carried out by officers from the LAPD’s Mission Community Police Station.
Guiterrez's arrest took place at a Sylmar residence. Following his court appearance and plea, the officer was released later on Wednesday. His release was secured by a $350,000 bond, occurring shortly after 5:30 p.m. that day. The Los Angeles Police Department acknowledged awareness of the officer’s arrest. LAPD spokesperson Lt. Elpidio Orozco confirmed to The Los Angeles Times that the department was informed of Guiterrez's apprehension. However, the department declined to offer further comment on the ongoing investigation or the charges, as reported by the newspaper.
The legal proceedings against Guiterrez are scheduled to continue in a San Fernando courtroom. The officer is set to reappear in court on December 4. During this upcoming session, a specific date is expected to be established for a preliminary hearing. This hearing will be critical in determining whether sufficient evidence exists to advance the case against him to a full trial. The process will evaluate the presented evidence to ascertain if there are grounds for the charges to proceed further in the judicial system.