Former Harris County Deputy Police Officer Xochitl Ortiz has been arrested for allegedly tasing her three children

A Texas police officer is facing a felony charge after she was accused of tasing her three young children at her Houston-area home.

Xochitl Ortiz, 34, was fired from her job as a Harris County assistant police officer following her arrest earlier this week. Ortiz, a two-year veteran of the force, was struck by three assaults on a child under the age of 15.

According to court documents reviewed by The Daily Beast, Ortiz “sedated” the children, 8, 11 and 12, in early April by allegedly shocking the three in the hand, shoulder and buttocks with a department-issued taser of their friend – the worked alongside Ortiz as a Harris County assemblyman.

Drive-stunning is described as a “pain compliance option” by Axon, the company that makes tasers. Rather than launching an electrical probe from the device, propulsion stunning requires the user to physically “push (propel)” the front of the device. [Taser] firmly against the subject’s body,” Axon tells customers.

“Just ‘touch’ [Taser] against the topic is not sufficient,” it says on the product page. “The subject will likely flinch and try to get away from it [Taser]. It is necessary to drive the front aggressively [Taser] into the subject for maximum impact.”

The Ortiz children have reported the alleged abuse to their father and that they “don’t feel safe” in their home, a likely cause prosecutors in Harris County District Court find, adding that the boys made “continuous statements about abuse.” made by her mother to state child protection officers. Ortiz and the children’s father are currently divorcing.

The Taser in question belongs to Ortiz’s friend Christopher Worthington, according to the probable cause. He was present when Ortiz attacked the children, prosecutors say, explaining in the court filing that Worthington’s “conduct and dutiful tasering are instigated in the allegations.”

Worthington was not charged, but was fired from the Harris County Constable’s Office when the allegations came to light. Worthington immediately hung up when he was reached by phone from The Daily Beast on Saturday.

Ortiz was originally ordered to hold a $450,000 bond, an amount later reduced to $150,000. In an affidavit filed with the court regarding her current financial situation, Ortiz claimed to have a total of $300 in the bank and $4,676 in monthly expenses. She put her total monthly income at $2,500.

“The deposit amount is necessary to… ensure security [Ortiz’s kids] and community,” prosecutors said in a court filing.

As of Saturday, Ortiz was no longer listed as an inmate at the Harris County Jail, suggesting she has managed to raise needed funds in the time since her arrest Wednesday.

Under the terms of her release, she is barred from approaching within 200 feet of her sons, Worthington, or anyone under the age of 17, Judge Brock Thomas ruled. Ortiz is also prohibited from drinking alcohol, possessing firearms or any less than lethal weapons, even toy guns.

Ortiz could not be reached for comment on Saturday. Before becoming a deputy, she worked for a private emergency medical service owned by her father, Enedino Chavez, according to public records.

Enedino Chavez, Ortiz’s father, who was contacted by phone by The Daily Beast on Saturday, declined to comment on the allegations, citing the advice of Ortiz’s attorney, Russell Allan Neumann. Neumann did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Saturday. In a statement provided to local ABC affiliate KTRK on Friday, Neumann said Ortiz “preserves her innocence” and plans to fight the case.

In a statement, District 4 Constable Mark Herman, now former Ortiz and Worthington chief, said his office “wants to maintain pride in our agency and our profession, and the only way we can do that is by fully investigating any allegations of wrongdoing.” investigate.”