Jail records show that former Owensboro Police Officer Aleph Zavala was arrested in 2012 and 2013, including once for a domestic violence allegation. Owensboro Times has obtained a partially redacted personnel file that shows why that charge was dropped.
Zavala — who was hired as an OPD officer on December 20, 2021 — was terminated from his position on February 21, 2024. A confidential source has since provided images to OT, which we have been able to verify, showing that Zavala was arrested once in 2012 for a failure to appear charge and once in 2013 for a domestic violence charge.
OT has submitted multiple Open Records Requests to various local and state agencies trying to learn more about those arrests. We are waiting for responses from most of those agencies.
On Monday, OT obtained Zavala’s partially redacted 68-page personnel file from the City of Owensboro. It provides some insight into the two arrests as well as a few traffic-related offenses.
Most notably, it shows Zavala was charged on November 29, 2013, with 4th-degree domestic violence. Jail records show that Zavala was released the next day, and a page of the personnel file shows the charge was dismissed on December 2, 2013.
A portion of the personnel file later includes notes from an interview with the person who filed the charge. The interview was conducted in November 2021 when Zavala was applying to OPD.
According to the documents, when asked about the domestic violence arrest, the person “stated they were both young and stupid and got in a heated argument, but he never laid a hand on her. These charges were dismissed and there have been no further issues between them.”
According to the document, when asked if Zavala had exhibited any violent tendencies or posed any violent threat, the person responded “no.”
In another question, the person again said the assault charge “came from them being young and stupid. He didn’t physically harm her, she just called in the heat of the argument. She had no injuries and dropped the charges.”
Portions of the provided personnel file relating to the incident are included below:
OT sent a list of questions to OPD on March 1 related to Zavala’s 2012 and 2013 arrests, but those questions have gone unanswered. City Manager Nate Pagan said on Monday the City has no comment on the personnel file and referred OT to other agencies for more details on the arrests.
Police and City of Owensboro officials also gave little insight into the allegations at the time of Zavala’s termination earlier this month. Information obtained through a previous Open Records Request details shows the allegations involved a complaint of sexual assault as well as making false statements about the incident.
Documents obtained relate to the complaint against Zavala, OPD’s internal investigation, and notes from the Kentucky State Police officer investigating the incident. Read the 53-page investigation report here.
According to documents, Zavala was fired after OPD’s internal investigation found he had violated department guidelines, including providing false statements, abusing his position, and unbecoming conduct.
According to the documents, the allegations were reported to Ealum, who contacted KSP to ask for an investigation to determine if any criminal conduct occurred. KSP’s criminal investigation against Zavala remains open. As of late last week, Trooper Corey King said KSP is still waiting for lab results and could not comment on the investigation.
OPD officials had no comment following the release of the documents.
OPD officials did not respond to a request for comment from Owensboro Times on January 9 when KSP confirmed it was investigating misconduct complaints involving two OPD officers for unrelated actions. An OPD official declined to comment on February 20. Officials did not take questions directly following the City Commission’s special called meeting on February 21, when the commission unanimously approved terminating Zavala following a closed session.OPD’s first comments on the matter came from Ealum later on February 21 during a press conference. You can watch the full press conference here.
