Lubbock PD employee accused of assaulting registered sex offender during check-in

LUBBOCK, Texas — Daniel Diaz-Gonzalez, 42, a civilian Lubbock Police Department employee, was arrested on Wednesday and accused of assaulting an elderly person, Chief Seth Herman said. Court documents obtained by EverythingLubbock.com revealed some additional details on Wednesday evening.

Diaz-Gonzalez was a civilian sex registration coordinator at LPD. Herman said the assault happened in the lobby of LPD headquarters on July 24. The victim was a registered sex offender, Steven Sardinta, 67. Herman said Sardinta was at LPD for a routine check-in with Diaz-Gonzalez at the time. Sardinta filed a complaint that day. Herman said the two were engaged in a verbal altercation that escalated. He also said the incident was captured on video.

Court documents obtained by EverythingLubbock.com stated Diaz-Gonzalez was in the process of completing Sardinta’s annual registration when they became involved in a dispute. Court records said Diaz-Gonzalez told Sardinta to leave the office, and the dispute escalated. According to court records, Diaz-Gonzalez reacted to a comment made by Sardinta. The two got closer to each other, court records said, and Diaz-Gonzalez pushed Sardinta to the ground.

Sardinta advised he was disabled, court records stated. Court documents said Sardinta complained he had bodily injury and bruising.

“Diaz-Gonzalez subjected Sardinta to mistreatment during the required annual visit,” court documents stated.

An investigation by Metro Special Crimes began on August 5. Diaz-Gonzalez was placed on leave on August 6, and the case was later presented to the DA’s Office. A warrant was issued for Diaz-Gonzalez arrest on Wednesday. He was taken into custody at LPD headquarters without incident.

LPD said an internal investigation is also ongoing. Diaz-Gonzalez has worked with LPD since February of 2018. He was assigned as the civilian sex offender registration coordinator in July 2023.

Sardinta was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in 2003, requiring him to register as a sex offender.