GALVESTON, Texas – The Galveston Police Department has launched an investigation into one of its officers after video surfaced of him punching multiple people while off-duty at an apartment complex.
Witnesses said they were at the apartment complex to celebrate a child’s birthday party when Rivas came to the celebration unannounced and demanded all non-residents leave the complex.
As some were getting up to leave, one witness told KTRK that Rivas began striking one of the mothers who attended the party. The same witness then alleged that Rivas struck a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy.
According to witnesses and the video, Rivas and a uniformed officer injured four people in all.
Galveston police said Rivas has been placed on administrative leave as it conducts its internal investigation. The identity of the uniformed officer seen in the video is not yet known.
Nate Kotisso joined KSAT as a digital journalist in 2024. He previously worked as a newspaper reporter in the Rio Grande Valley for more than two years and spent nearly three years as a digital producer at the CBS station in Oklahoma City.