Daniel Borunda

El Paso Times

An El Paso police detective was arrested Monday night on suspicion of sexual assault of a child, according to police officials and jail records.

Detective Juan Carlos Gardea, 46, was arrested following an investigation by the Crimes Against Children Unit after a family member made an allegation of being assaulted by Gardea over the weekend, officials said.

An El Paso County Jail log lists Saturday as the offense date.

Details on the alleged assault were not released, but police said that an arrest warrant was obtained based on evidence. The El Paso Times does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Detectives arrested Gardea at 9 p.m. Monday in the 1400 block of Dominic Anakin Drive in the far East Side, police said. Gardea was jailed under a $100,000 bond.

Gardea's booking photo was not released because it could compromise ongoing investigations, police officials said.

Gardea has been with the El Paso Police Department for 19 years and was based at headquarters, officials said. He has been placed on administrative leave.

A decade ago, a detective of the same name was part of the Special Victims Unit dedicated to investigating abuse, neglect and other crimes against senior citizens and the disabled, according to El Paso Times archives.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.