A temporary restraining order has been granted against a Rockwall man charged with ramming his truck into a security checkpoint at the L-3 Mission Integration facility in Greenville.
The defense contractor is also seeking a permanent injunction against Gavino Silva Zertuche Jr., which would prevent him from coming near the L-3 facilities in both Greenville and Rockwall. The request for the injunction, filed Friday afternoon, also claims the company fears Zertuche may have committed treason.
Zertuche, 46, is being held in lieu of a total of $55,000 bond on one count each of aggravated assault against a public servant and criminal trespass. Zertuche, a former employee at the defense contractor, was arrested December 29 by the Greenville Police Department after allegedly crashing his 2009 GMC Sierra 4 door truck through the main gate at L-3.
A criminal complaint prepared by the police department was included as part of the request for a temporary restraining order, which was filed on behalf of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems by Greenville attorney H. Craig Black. The order mandates that Zertuche remain at least 1,000 feet away from the L-3 Mission Integration plants in Greenville and Rockwall, and demands that he not contact or communicate with the employees at the facilities.
Judge Andrew Bench with the 196th District Court granted the restraining order and scheduled a hearing for this coming Thursday to consider the request for a permanent injunction against Zertuche.
According to a report from the police department, officers responded to the scene on the afternoon of December 29, after receiving a call from L-3 security asking for assistance.
Zertuche was reported to have rammed his truck through the main gate in an intentional act. Police officers arrived to find L-3 security officers with Zertuche in custody.
Zertuche was said to have been at the facility earlier in the day and had spoken with an L-3 employee, left, and then returned. Zertuche allegedly crashed into a parked, occupied L-3 Security vehicle that was positioned at the main entry control point, injuring one of the security officers.
Zertuche’s truck then reportedly struck the security building at the main entry control point causing damage.
According to the police department report, Zertuche initially walked up to the checkpoint, “and notified an L-3 Security Officer that he wanted to turn himself in for comitting treason.”
The report indicated the officers informed Zertuche that an investigator with the company would be in contact with him.
“Mr. Zertuche than stated he wanted personnel from the L-3 Security Office to escort him to his home in Rockwal, Texas and take possession of his computer hard drive because people were after him,” according to the complaint.
The officers reportedly then told Zertuche to contact the Rockwall Police Department as they had no jurisdiction in Rockwall.
The request for the restraining order indicated that L-3 security had previously received three alerts about Zertuche. The first came on Oct. 24, 2011, when he was placed on medical leave for mental issues.
The second alert came on Jan. 10, 2012, when Zertuche was fired from the company and the third came on Jan. 7, 2014 in regards to domestic issues Zertuche was having with his wife, who was still employed at the Greenville facility.
“The third alert was also issued in response (to) Mr. Zertuche having potentially disclosed sensitive program information to unauthorized sources,” according to the police report.
Zertuche has not yet been indicted in connection with the December 29 incident. Aggravated assault against a public servant is a first degree felony, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of from five to 99 years to life in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.