Hero Sergeant Mark Bustamante Loses Eye In Fight With DUI Suspect
Hero Sergeant Mark Bustamante
Hero Sergeant Mark Bustamante Loses Eye In Fight With DUI Suspect
Tucson, AZ – Sergeant Mark Bustamante, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, was severely injured during a traffic stop around midnight on Saturday, December 10, 2016.
According to news sources, Sgt. Bustamante had stopped a vehicle near Drexel Road and Alvernon Way for a Driving Under the Influence investigation. During the traffic stop, Yesennia Gonzalez, age 28, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Pima County Sheriff’s Office Deputies placed her in handcuffs. When PCSO Deputies attempted to place Gonzalez into a patrol car, she become combative and began kicking at the Deputies. Sgt. Bustamante was assaulted and intentionally kicked in the eye by Gonzalez, whose boot heel hit Sgt. Bustamante in his left eye. Another PCSO Deputy was also assaulted and kicked by Gonzalez.
Pima County SO Sgt. Bustamante was transported to a local hospital for treatment with severe injuries to his eye. Doctors immediately operated on this hero but were unsuccessful in saving his left eye. He has now completely lost the use of that eye. The other Deputy was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of that Deputy’s injuries or his name have not been released.
Gonzalez was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, one count of Resisting Arrest, and one count of Driving Under the Influence.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this Pima County Sheriff’s Office Hero, and the other PCSO Deputy was was injured, their families, and their family in blue.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately1.5 million people are arrested a year for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Meaning, one out of every 121 licensed drivers were arrested for drunk driving.
What do you think should be the punishment for someone who assaults an officer? Please share your comments on Facebook or below.
