Press release from the Del Rio Police Department
On Sept. 14, 2026, at approximately 8:13 a.m., officers with the Del Rio Police Department responded to a report of a missing 13-year-old female juvenile. The juvenile’s guardian reported that she had left the residence without permission several hours earlier. Officers completed a missing juvenile report and immediately began searching the area.
A short time later, officers located a vehicle in the 200 block of Bridge Street occupied by a male driver, identified as 17-year-old Jose
Manuel Lopez Jr., and a female passenger who was confirmed to be the missing juvenile. Lopez initially told officers that he did not know the juvenile and claimed they had just met.
During the investigation, officers determined that Lopez was an unlicensed driver. Officers addressed the traffic violation and arranged for the vehicle to be towed. Lopez became irate, and officers attempted to place him in handcuffs so they could safely continue the investigation.
Lopez physically resisted officers and struck an officer in the face multiple times with a closed fist, causing pain and discomfort. Lopez continued to resist and was ultimately subdued with the use of a department-issued Taser.
Lopez was arrested and transported to the Del Rio Police Department, where he was initially charged with assault on a public servant and resisting arrest, search or transportation.
As the investigation continued, officers determined that Lopez and the juvenile had met approximately one day earlier and had continued communicating. Investigators learned that Lopez persuaded the juvenile to leave her residence to meet with him. The investigation further revealed that Lopez and the juvenile had met on multiple occasions and allegedly engaged in sexual activity.
Based on information developed during the investigation, Lopez was additionally charged with harboring a runaway child, online solicitation of a minor and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Lopez was subsequently transferred to the custody of the GEO correctional facility pending the magistration process.
An emergency protective order was obtained on behalf of the juvenile. No additional information is available at this time.
Keywords: Del Rio Police Department, Jose Manuel Lopez Jr., missing juvenile, assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, harboring a runaway child, online solicitation of a minor, aggravated sexual assault of a child, Del Rio, Bridge Street
