DPS, CAMERON COUNTY D.A.'S DIRTY DEEDS HURT INNOCENTS

By Omar Sanchez

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

My name is Omar Sanchez Paz I am over the age of eighteen (18) years; I am of sound mind and capable of making this affidavit; I am fully competent to testify to the matters stated herein; and I have personal knowledge of each of the matters stated herein.

This written affidavit is made pursuant §614.021 of the Texas Government Code, complaining of the wrongful and unlawful conduct engaged by Rene Aaron Olivarez, a Texas Peace Officer employed as Special Agent by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) ID No. 11884. 

I further request that Agent Olivarez be criminally investigated for violations to the Texas Penal Code, specifically §39.02 Abuse of Official Capacity and §39.03 Official Oppression.

1 am 26 years old and prior to agent Olivarez getting involved in my life, I had never been arrested. I am a single father and have 7 year old daughter. I have dedicated 6 years of my life working for Cameron County. 

On January 6, 2016, I was arrested at my place of employment and indicted for numerous felony counts of Abuse of Official Capacity and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.

On August 23, 2016, after being forced to concede that the charges filed against me by agent Olivarez had absolutely no merit whatsoever, the Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz reluctantly had no choice but to dismiss all charges against me. 

By this time I had already been publicly humiliated in the news media, my family's home and personal belongings were ransacked and searched and I was forced to spend thousands of dollars in bonds and attorney's fees. All in an attempt by agent Olivarez to try to threaten, coerce and intimidate me and my family

...Olivarez's unlawful conduct and lack of training on motor vehicle registration guidelines and procedures ultimately led to my false arrest on January 6, 2016 and subsequent indictment on January 27, 2016.

As part of his secret sting operation, Olivarez sent his "cooperating individual", Melquiades Sosa, to make contact with my superior, Mr. Tony Yzaguirre, Jr., so as to have Mr. Yzaguirre facilitate the registration of the vehicles. (That's him at left being booked on nine charges of Tampering With Government Documents.)

The plan was to see if our office would check for IDs when processing his informant's applications. 

If we didn't check, it would support his theory that we were not checking IDs in exchange for bribes.

Olivarez Omitted Exculpatory Evidence

"...Olivarez purposefully omitted the exonerating fact that he previously attempted to register the same vehicles and that our office rejected his fake titles.

On December 10th, Olivarez sent in his informant Sosa as part of his sting. I carefully revised the documentation provided by Sosa and determined that the documents initially submitted were missing the address of the purchaser on the assignment of title as well as the signature of buyer was missing on the assignment of title.

Once I noticed these deficiencies in said documents, I had the auto-tax staff prepare two rejection letters stating the reasons why the title registration for these two vehicles could not be processed.

Olivarez was thus fully aware that due to the incomplete documentation provided by his informant, I previously rejected and prevented the transfer of these two vehicles. 

Olivarez Tampered With Records

On December 15, 2015, Olivarez again attempted to register these vehicles. In an attempt to again pass his fake titles through our office, Olivarez, now tampered with the documentation I had previously objected to in the rejection letters.

This time around he falsified and manufactured the missing information, and forged the missing signatures of individuals without their permission. (That's agent Olivarezat right testifying during Mr. Yzaguirre's trial.)

Olivarez Ignorant of Underlying Law

...At the time of my arrest, Olivarez was ignorant of the law holding that neither the Tax Assessor-Collector (TAC) nor his staff are required to verify the title applicant's identification for Motor Vehicle Dealer Transactions (for car dealers like Sosa).

Thus, as matter of law, and contrary to Olivarez's assertions, I was never required to verify neither the identification nor the insurance of the title applicant on either of these Dealer transactions.

As result of Olivarez's poor knowledge of the laws pertaining to Texas Motor Vehicle Registration, I was arrested and indicted by a Cameron County Grand Jury.

Olivarez Falsified Affidavit

Though IDs were not required on the Dealer titles Olivarez was trying to pass through our office, I confirmed that one of the transactions where he accused me of not checking for IDs did nonetheless contain the copy of the photo ID of the registered owner as well as the vehicle insurance card.

Arrested Me For Transactions He Knew Were Not Mine

Significantly, both the exhibits attached to his investigative reports as well as independent Title History Reports issued by the Custodian of Records of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, confirm that the registration for both of these vehicles were processed by employee number CAMC131 (another employee of the Cameron County Tax Office) and not me (CAMCI 12). He knew before he arrested me that I was not even the person who processed these titles.

Conclusion

Therefore, because of agent Olivarez's ignorance of the pertinent laws, I was unlawfully arrested and indicted. (His) abhorrent investigative practices lead to not only my wrongful arrest but also to that of my co-workers. This is a textbook example of what a police officer should not stand for. I am sure that this kind of poor investigative performance and unlawful conduct is not condoned by the Texas Department of Public Safety and appropriate action should be taken and I do hereby respectfully request that adequate disciplinary action is taken.