SAN FERNANDO, Calif. — A Los Angeles Police Department officer has been charged with kidnapping, assault with a firearm and two counts of felony child abuse after allegedly holding the mother of his children at gunpoint and forcing her from their Sylmar home during a domestic violence incident, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Oct. 29.
Officer Anthony Guiterrez faces four felony counts stemming from the Oct. 26 confrontation, during which prosecutors allege he threatened his girlfriend with a firearm while their two children were present.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the incident began as an argument between Guiterrez and his girlfriend, who is also the mother of his children. Prosecutors allege that Guiterrez pointed a firearm at the woman and forced her to leave the residence.
The woman reportedly called 911 during the confrontation, apparently without Guiterrez’s knowledge, according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited law enforcement sources familiar with the incident.
Officers responding to the emergency call arrested Guiterrez after he allegedly forced the woman from the home and into the street at gunpoint.
Prosecutors charged Guiterrez with one felony count of kidnapping, one felony count of assault with a firearm and two felony counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. The charges also include a firearm-use allegation.
According to the criminal complaint reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, the couple’s two children are identified as the alleged victims of the child abuse counts. Prosecutors have not publicly detailed the specific conduct underlying those charges.
Guiterrez pleaded not guilty to all counts during his Oct. 28 arraignment. Bail was set at $350,000, and he was released on bond later that afternoon, according to City News Service.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned the alleged conduct, emphasizing that police officers remain responsible for upholding the law outside their official duties.
“A law enforcement officer takes an oath to serve and protect, and that responsibility does not end when the uniform comes off,” Hochman said. “The defendant allegedly betrayed that oath by committing an act of violence against his own family.”
Hochman also emphasized the broader consequences of domestic violence, particularly for families and children who may experience lasting harm.
“Domestic violence leaves lasting scars, causing harm that extends far beyond the immediate incident and can affect victims and their loved ones for years to come,” Hochman said. “Our Family Violence Division is committed to holding those who commit these crimes accountable.”
Guiterrez joined the LAPD in March 2022, according to department staffing records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked in the department’s Newton Division in South Los Angeles before transferring to the Foothill Division in the San Fernando Valley.
The LAPD has not publicly confirmed whether Guiterrez remains on active duty or has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest.
When NBC Los Angeles sought information about his employment status, the department declined to provide details, citing its ongoing investigation.
It also remains unclear whether Guiterrez’s law enforcement authority has been restricted or whether he has been prohibited from accessing department-issued firearms while the criminal case proceeds.
The LAPD is investigating the incident, while Deputy District Attorney Myle Phan of the Family Violence Division is prosecuting the criminal case.
Guiterrez is scheduled to return to the San Fernando Courthouse on Dec. 4 for a preliminary hearing setting.
If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and eight months in California state prison.
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