If he was vying to prove that postal workers are well-adjusted, mellow human beings, a mailman in Commerce was utterly unsuccessful. Allegedly.
Cops say 55-year-old Daniel Villasenor choked an 11-year-old girl outside near a park restroom building after she giggled when he accidentally went into the women's bathroom.
According to a sheriff's statement sent to the Weekly, the girl's claim …
… was backed up by witnesses. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department says:
Several witnesses saw the postal worker get angry and choke the young girl.
It was reported at 6:20 p.m. Monday at Bristow Park in Commerce (see map above).
Deputies say they tracked down Villasenor nearby and arrested him on suspicion of “felony willful cruelty to a child.” Maybe he was just horsing around?
The postal employee was booked in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Sheriff's inmate data indicates that he's due in East Los Angeles Municipal Court this morning.
At 9 a.m. sheriff's officials will speak more about the case during a press conference.
[Update at 12:26 p.m. Wednesday]: The District Attorney's office today announced that Villasenor has been charged with suspicion of cruelty to a child and assault on park property.
The office added details to the narrative, stating that the suspect was taunted by two children at the park and that …
… He allegedly chased the girl, who ran into the women's restroom, and began choking her inside a supply room adjacent to the restroom before two city workers told him to stop.
Villasenor was due to be arraigned at 2 p.m., prosecutors say. They're asking for $15,000 bail.
[Update at 3:08 p.m.]: In a statement sent the Weekly, the U.S. Postal Service says Villasenor “has been placed in an emergency non-duty status pending investigation.”
The service has launched its own investigation into the incident, it says.
Villasenor has been with the USPS since 1981.
[Added at 5:10 p.m.]: Villasenor pleaded not guilty to all charges today, according to City News Service. He was due back in court March 5.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.