SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced
that on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, that 31-year-old Christian Tapia-Leon an officer employed by the
Greenfield Police Department, pled no contest to one count of Penal Code § 242, battery.
On May 1, 2022, Tapia found out through a snapchat video that his girlfriend was attending a
family party that was also attended by her ex-boyfriend. Tapia took a screenshot of the ex-boyfriend—the
victim in this case—and texted it to Tapia’s girlfriend, along with multiple vulgarities. Ten minutes
later, Tapia and a friend showed up at a house in Gonzales. Tapia stormed through the
house, into the backyard and immediately attacked the ex-boyfriend. Tapia punched him multiple
times in front of half a dozen people. Tapia’s friend, who was related to individuals at the house,
also tried to attack the victim but was restrained by his cousins and forced out of the house with
Tapia. The victim had a single bump with bruising on his head. He did not seek medical attention.
Gonzalez police were called and showed up immediately. When Gonzales police officers asked
Tapia what happened, he repeatedly lied to officers, told them nothing happened, and that there was
no fight. He further demanded that police uncuff his friend, who was detained because he was drunk
and belligerent. After repeatedly denying anyone was fighting or that he saw anyone throw
punches, Tapia changed his story and said that the people at the family party attacked his friend for
no apparent reason and Tapia was only trying to get his friend out of the house.
Numerous witnesses were interviewed. Five of them told police that they saw Tapia show up out of
nowhere and attack the victim, who was blindsided by the attack and fell to the ground as a result.
When police questioned Tapia’s friend, the man told police that Tapia was angry about the ex-
boyfriend being there and beat up the ex.
The following day, Tapia called the owner of the house and said that Tapia’s supervisor, a
Greenfield PD Sergeant, would interview the homeowner. Tapia asked the homeowner for a favor:
Tell the sergeant that Tapia was not involved in the fight and only was there to separate people.
The homeowner agreed to help him out. Later, when the phone call was reported to law
enforcement along with a screenshot of the call, the homeowner eventually admitted he lied to the
sergeant to help Tapia because of Tapia’s request.
Tapia was sentenced by Judge Mark Hood. He received a stipulated sentence of 30 days, home
confinement eligible, as condition of misdemeanor probation. Because of the conviction, Tapia is
prevented from possessing or owning a firearm for 10 years.
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