Erath County sheriff’s deputy terminated after arrest for continuous family violence.

Joseph Michael Salazar

 By SARA VANDEN BERGE

Beneath the Surface News received an anonymous email this morning about an Erath County sheriff’s deputy arrested for continuous family violence by the Weatherford Police Department on July 21.

A search of online records and a phone call with Sheriff Matt Coates confirmed the arrest allegation.

An Erath County sheriff’s deputy has been terminated for violating several departmental policies during an incident in Parker County on July 21.

Joseph Michael Salazar had only been a deputy for about seven months before his termination, Sheriff Matt Coates said.

Prior to that, he worked at the Erath County Jail.

According to the Weatherford Police Department’s daily media release issued July 23, a police officer was dispatched to a residence in Weatherford about 9:30 p.m. in reference to a report of family violence.

The release states that a 28-year-old female reported that Salazar had assaulted her more than once in a 12-month period.

He was placed under arrest and charged with continuous violence against a family member.

Salazar had reportedly driven his Erath County patrol car to the scene of the alleged assault, so Coates was informed about the arrest a short time later.

“We got the call about the arrest, went over to pick up the car and talked to the detective working the case and watched a video,” Coates said.

“We started an internal investigation and (Salazar) was fired after we discovered that he had violated several policies.

“Our deputies are expected to uphold the law, so they will be held to a high standard as long as I’m in office.”