WILLIAMSON COUNTY (Talk1370.com) -- A former Williamson County Sheriff's deputy has been charged with official oppression and assault causing bodily injury, relating to a domestic disturbance call in September 2019.
37-year old Lorenzo Hernandez of Cedar Park was booked into the Williamson County Jail Monday morning. He's been released on $5,000 bond.
According to a release from the Sheriff's office, the incident began as a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 7000 block of West Parmer Lane on Sept. 21, 2019.
The victim, according to body camera video and an arrest affidavit, speaks with the first deputy to arrive at the scene. The victim tells the responding deputy that "she's fine", that she doesn't want to press charges, and that she did not want deputies coming inside the apartment.
Hernandez, the second deputy to arrive at the scene, can be seen in body camera video placing his hand on the victim's throat and pushing her back towards a wall. He also threatened to use a Taser on her. Deputies then threw the victim to the ground and handcuffed her, while Hernandez and another deputy searched the apartment.
"Defendant Hernandez escalates the event through an intentional, unreasonable use of force against [the victim] by placing his hand on her throat directly below her chin," an arrest affidavit said. "The intentional use of force by Defendant Hernandez by placing his hand on the throat of [the victim] is unlawful, as no exception provides Defendant Hernandez the justification for the use of said force."
In a statement, the Sheriff's office said it "is committed to a victim’s centered approach to domestic violence investigations and does not condone the misuse of authority under color of law."
Hernandez resigned from the office on January 3, just after newly-elected Sheriff Mike Gleason was sworn into office.