Court records show it wasn't the first time El Paso police responded to the house of 35-year-old Alfonso De Anda, the firefighter killed by police during a domestic dispute call over the weekend. Close to two years ago police responded to a domestic call at the home where he was arrested for assault on his wife, Martha De Anda.
According to the documents De Anda was arrested on Feb. 10, 2004. El Paso Police spokesman Javier Sambrano confirmed the incident. "There was an incident that was reported back in 2004, which was a domestic violence situation and there was an arrest that was made in that particular case and of course Alfonso De Anda was arrested," Sambrano said.
Sambrano said it's common for the abuser in a domestic violence situation to abuse again, but first comes a long period of peace and that's what neighbors may have witnessed.
"There will be stages, the honeymoon stage where after an assault or something ends up taking place they're asking for forgiveness, saying they're going to change, things will get better so they go through a cycle where problems start again," said Sambrano.
Al Varela councils firefighters said their jobs are high stress related. "They have 24-hour shifts, they are away from their families and they have to deal with all the mayhem the loss that they see on a daily basis," said Varela.
He said domestic violence for some who don't deal with their problems. "You may have a combination of substance abuse, financial problems, parenting issues that are unresolved, a whole mixture of issues that can contribute to domestic violence," said Varela.
There is no record of a restraining or protective order against Alfonso De Anda.
As for the Employment Assistant Program for the firefighters, it is free and provides emotional, psychological, and stress related help.
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