ARCOLA, Texas (KTRK) — Former Arcola police officer Hector Ruiz, 29, received a 20-year prison sentence on Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman during a 2019 traffic stop.
As per justice.gov The incident occurred when Ruiz stopped the woman in November 2019, directing her to prevent him from taking her to jail. When she attempted to flee, he halted her again, then coerced her into consuming alcohol before sexually assaulting her, court documents revealed.
An investigation disclosed that Ruiz had disabled his body microphone and cruiser’s recording system during the encounter. Additionally, authorities uncovered a text message the victim sent to a friend while under Ruiz’s control.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani condemned Ruiz’s actions, labeling him not just a predator but a predator who abused his authority as a law enforcement officer.
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Ruiz’s sentence includes 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about police misconduct and accountability, prompting calls for rigorous oversight and reforms within law enforcement agencies to prevent such abuses in the future.