An LA County sheriff’s detective is being investigated for having an affair with the wife of a man he helped investigate, and tried to prosecute.
Allegedly, the woman’s complaint was that her husband, Alberto Gutierrez, threatened her. The tables were turned, however, when the LA County Sheriff opened an internal investigation into Detective Phillip Solano in April 2010 after Mr. Gutierrez filed a suit claiming that the detective and his wife were involved in a relationship. Detective Solano has been restricted to administrative duty pending investigation.
Gutierrez’s lawyer claims his client was taken into two times in 2008 for violating a restraining order. Although acquitted, the lawyer claims that the actions were meant to sway court opinion in Gutierrez’s upcoming divorce and custody proceedings from then-wife, Mayela Gutierrez Gil.
Solano investigated both complaints and arrested Mr. Gutierrez twice. During trial, it was revealed that Mayela Gutierrez Gil and Detective Solano were Facebook friends who had exchanged messages and calls.
The original charges included making criminal threats, stalking, and two counts of defying court orders. The judge dismissed the stalking charge and one count of disobeying a court order before trial, and a jury acquitted Gutierrez of all charges. The acquittal came after it was revealed that Mrs. Gutierrez’s and Detective Solano were in a social relationship. According to the wife, Solano wanted to pursue a romantic relationship; but both parties denied claims that they were romantically involved.
A private investigator, however, collected evidence that the relationship was romantic in nature. The details have been kept private. Mr. Gutierrez, filed a complaints against LA County, his wife and Detective Solano claiming that wife and detective had plotted to falsely accuse Mr. Gutierrez so that he would not be able gain custody of the children. He is suing for $2 million in damages.
The county admits to an internal investigation, although an LA County spokesperson stated: “We look forward to telling the whole story,” he said. “The whole story is not being told now.”
