El Centro mayor to continue in office, following DUI arrest

The mayor of El Centro, Edgard Garcia, says he has no intention of stepping down as mayor, following his recent arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

“This will be attended to, and again this will not have an impact on my duties as mayor and I do fully intend to complete those duties as I was elected to do,” said Garcia, at the city council meeting on May 21.

Garcia was arrested on May 7 by the El Centro Police Department.

Police logs indicate Garcia refused to take a field sobriety test and was then taken to the police station, where a third party picked him up.

After the arrest, ECPD had no comment on the incident and the City of El Centro issued a press release stating it was a private matter for the mayor.

At the May 21 city council meeting, Garcia emphasized that his situation was a private matter.

” I ask for your patience, in order to protect my family, for some respect for our privacy at this time, ” said Garcia.

According to the district attorney’s office, they turned Garcia’s case over to the state attorney general’s office, to avoid a conflict of interest.

We reached out again to city council members for comment, but have none at this time.