What kind of city do we live in?

On Sunday, May 16, my husband Evaristo Vasquez Jr. was assaulted by police officer Gilbert Gonzalez, also known to officers as badge number 79.

My husband and brother in law were at the baseball field when they received a call that his sister was in an argument with her ex-husband’s new girlfriend.

As any good brothers would do, they proceed to go check to see if she was okay and to pick up their niece, who is a minor and was at the parking lot of J.K. Northway Exposition Center.

Officer Gonzalez was already there and yelled at them to stay back since my husband and his brother had parked approximately 40 to 50 yards away from the females that were arguing (that is where the officer was at).

My husband’s ex-brotherin law arrived, parking about 30 feet away from my husband.

At that time my husband began to walk towards his ex-brother-in-law to find out what was going on.

Officer Gonzalez then runs from the females, who are arguing, towards my husband at full speed.

My husband did not realize that the officer was about to charge him until his brother yelled at him “watch out.”

As my husband began to turn, Officer Gonzalez shoved him with excessive force causing him to lose his balance.

As my husband began to get his balance the officer once again shoved him with full force from behind, causing his neck to pop and shoulder to also pop.

My husband and his brother then got in the truck, and as they got in, my husband’s brother said you shouldn’t have pushed my brother.

At that point, Officer Gonzalez runs back to the truck, stating, “What the f--- did you say I will kick your a-- right now.”

My husband in disbelief says, “What’s wrong with you,” and Mr. Gonzalez replies, “That’s what I thought.”

With in the next 20 minutes my husband began to experience excruciating pain in his neck and shoulder area.

He was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg where he was diagnosed with a cervical sprain.

The sprain is very painful and even prevents him from lifting up our 26-pound infant daughter.

Now, I say to you, the citizens of Kingsville, how can we let this happen without any consequences?

We are good, church -going people who pray with our children as a family every night, as well as attend college here at TAMUK.

I do the best I can to teach my children that police officers are here to protect us and now what do I say?

My husband has tried to go about this the right way, the legal way, with no help at all.

Everybody either wants money to help or would rather do nothing because of personal conflicts.

All my life I heard the saying it is not what you know but who you know.

I never believed that to be true, yet there are many people (along with eight witnesses) who know the truth.

So why exactly will no attorneys, elected officials or anybody help to do their duties when they were sworn to protect this community?

Is there an attorney who still believes in fighting for the truth?

We could use your help in solving what could turn into a terrible situation.

My husband is a big man but imagine if this officer lost his temper on your teenage son.

Now is the time for us to put our foot down and show everybody that this will not be tolerated in our community any longer

Please contact us at 361- 488-2502. Thank you and may God bless everybody.

Mr. and Mrs. Evaristo

Vasquez Jr.