ABELARDO GOMEZ, ESQ., COUNSELOR-AT-LAW?

By Juan Montoya
A funny thing happened on the way to recover a cash register counter.
This past Wednesday Precinct 2 deputy constable Salvador Cabrera was called by a complainant named Eugenia Sanchez and shown a document proving that she owned a cash register counter which was in possession of her former associate Raquel Flores of D'lor Gift Shop at Sunrise Mall.
Upon seeing the document of the counter valued at $1,800 that proved Ms. Sanchez was the owner and that she and Flores had parted on good terms, Cabrera went to the shop to see that things went smoothly when Sanchez tried to take possession of the counter.
Sanchez has tried to pick up the counter on Tuesday, but Flores called the Brownsville police Department and an officer arrived to tell her that since it was a civil matter, he had no authority to do anything about the matter.
When the deputy constable asked Flores whether she was ready to give up the counter, Flores reportedly said that she needed another week to find a replacement.
When Cabrera persisted ad asked her whether she intended to return the counter, Flores said she wanted to cal her attorney and discuss the matter with him before she answered the constable's question.
When she was unable to reach the legal eagle, she called former Pct. 2 Constable Abelardo Gomez whom she said advised her not to return the item.
Now, the question here would seem to be: Since when does Gomez, who we know doesn't possess the legal credentials or the official authority to advise people about civil matters, render an order that stymies the carrying out of a civil process?
We understand that the county's legal counsel will be consulted on the matter to see whether Gomez, who has stated that he will seek to oust current constable Pete Avila in 2012, had any right to advise Flores on the matter.