Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Serjio Garcia is wanted by police on warrants regarding probation violations and for questioning about an alleged assault against a former girlfriend.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man wanted by police reportedly checked himself into a detox facility in Benson.
Serjio Esekial Garcia, 26, is wanted by police for questioning regarding an alleged assault on an ex-girlfriend that was captured on surveillance video at the victim’s workplace.
Garcia was already on intensive probation regarding two separate cases when the new incident occurred. The first case involves guilty convictions of burglary in the second degree and aggravated assault, and the second case involves guilty convictions of kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to a Safford Police report, the new alleged assault took place Nov. 8, but the victim delayed reporting it until Nov. 23 out of fear of retribution from Garcia.
Garcia’s probation officer was initially informed of the situation and responded to the scene. There, he was shown video surveillance footage of Garcia going into an employees-only zone and grabbing the victim’s phone. The footage then shows Garcia hold the phone in front of the victim’s face in an apparent attempt to unlock it. He then grabbed her throat and forced her to the ground. The footage was also shown to the police officer, who recorded it as evidence.
The officer attempted to locate Garcia at his residence but was informed that he had left earlier that day to go to a detox center in Benson. The information was later corroborated by the Graham County Probation Department.
The following day, a petition to revoke Garcia’s probation was filed in Graham County Superior Court – according to online court records – and warrants were issued for his arrest.
