San Benito school trustee arrest report released
SAN BENITO — Police on Tuesday delayed releasing a report on the arrest of San Benito school board member Oscar Medrano until late afternoon.
Assistant City Manager Art Rodriguez, who is in charge of the police department’s administration, said an ongoing investigation continued in the case of Medrano, who city officials said was arrested Jan. 22 on an outstanding warrant issued for failing to appear in court after he was cited for violating the city’s leash law in 2005.
Medrano paid a fine and was released the day of his arrest, the police report says.
Medrano did not return telephone calls Tuesday.
Medrano, a patient advocate and volunteer services coordinator at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, is the school board’s past president who was first elected in 2008.
Police released Medrano about 2:05 a.m. Jan. 22 after he used a money order to pay a $262.62 fine issued for failing to appear in court on an allegation of failing to keep his dog on a leash Dec. 1, 2005, Martin Morales, the police department’s operations chief, said Tuesday morning.
Police Officer Arturo Flores encountered Medrano after he responded to the 700 block of East Stenger St. about 1 a.m. Jan. 22 when a resident complained about “loud noises” in an alley there, Morales said.
A report said police responded to “noises heard at a residence” in that block.
“The call came in as suspicious loud noises coming from the alley way,” Morales said.
Morales said he didn’t know whether the complaint stemmed from human voices or other sounds.
The report said police encountered two men at the scene.
“They were just socializing,” Morales said. “It was just to inquire if they knew about the noises.”
Morales said Flores detained Medrano after a background check showed he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court.
“He was placed under arrest and was transported to (a convenience store) to obtain a money order to pay the fine,” the report says.
Morales said Medrano was taken to the police department, where he was booked and later released after he paid the fine.
“He was 100 percent cooperative,” Morales said.
Police initially requested that the Valley Morning Star submit an open records request to obtain a copy of the report.
fernandodv@valleystar.com
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