THORNTON, Colo. — A Denver Police officer forcefully shoved his wife backward before attempting to choke her, according to an arrest affidavit from the Thornton Police Department.
Anthony Guzman Jr. was arrested last week in connection with an incident that happened on Aug. 8. It was not reported until two days later, on Aug. 10, according to the affidavit. When asked why she did not report the incident initially, the woman stated, "My husband is a Denver Policer officer and I did not want this to affect his job," the document says.
She provided written statements about prior incidents of domestic violence she said dated back to Dec. 31, 2020, according to the affidavit. In the same document, Guzman Jr. told investigators he and his wife had been together for three years but married for one.
During the August incident, his wife told investigators the two began arguing at their child's school and that the argument became physical once they returned home.
She told investigators that she asked Guzman Jr. to leave but he wouldn't so she decided to leave the home with the kids, but Guzman Jr. blocked the door. When she tried to open the door, she reported that Guzman Jr. "forcefully shoved" her backward into a closet door, the affidavit says.
After that, she reported that Guzman Jr. grabbed her below the chin "with force." She later described him squeezing hard enough that it hurt but stated his hands were not low enough to cause trouble breathing. The woman later told investigators she had scratches on her right arm and bruises on her left arm from the incident.
The woman also reported that Guzman Jr. hit his own head against the back of the door several times and was "punching himself" on the right side of his face.
During the incident, a child came downstairs. That child later told investigators that they heard banging and went to see what was going on. The child reported that they saw Guzman Jr. and the victim fighting and that the victim tried to call for help but Guzman Jr. took her phone.
The child reported that they witnessed Guzman Jr. hitting himself and banging his own head against the wall, the affidavit says. The child also said they saw Guzman Jr. "choking" the victim and "slamming" her into a wall, according to the document.
After that, the child described Guzman Jr. grabbing a pair of work pants from a banister and throwing them. The pants, which had a belt attached to them and a pocket knife in the pocket, hit another person in the face, the affidavit says. That person was not hurt.
Thornton officers contacted Guzman Jr. by phone and asked him about the incident. He initially said he did not want to say anything because he did not want to get another person in trouble. That person's name is redacted from the affidavit.
The officer asked Guzman Jr. about his black eye, which he confirmed he had, and asked if he had been hit or caused it himself. He responded, according to the affidavit, that he is a cop too and did not want to answer the question. After additional questioning, Guzman Jr. eventually said that someone else had hit him.
Guzman Jr. denied any physical contact with the victim and said he only put his hands near her face when he was kissing her cheek. He also denied throwing his work pants.
Investigators re-interviewed the victim who reported that every time an incident occurred Guzman Jr. "always" told her not to call the cops because he'll lose his job, the affidavit says. She went on to say that she feels "overwhelmed" because Guzman Jr. and another person, whose name is redacted from the document, are both members of law enforcement. She said she feels she's going against the "blue wall," the affidavit says.
Guzman Jr. is next due in court on Dec. 28.
Denver Police said Guzman Jr. was placed on desk duty on Aug. 14 when the department learned of the investigation. After Guzman's arrest, he was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the case. Police said he continues to be paid because the charge is a misdemeanor.
Guzman joined DPD in 2022 and worked in the patrol division, according to the department.
DPD said its disciplinary process is on hold until the case is adjudicated in court, which is standard protocol.
Guzman was cleared in two fatal shootings while serving with the Littleton and Westminster police departments.
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