Retired police officer accused of assaulting mailman over different political views: report

A retired police officer in New Mexico has been accused of attacking his mailman after tensions rose between the two based on different political views, police say.

On Dec. 3, a report came into the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Albuquerque about a postal worker, identified as C.K. The report stated C.K. was assaulted while delivering mail in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

According to authorities, inspectors learned the attacker was Robert F. Gutierrez, a retired cop. Gutierrez told police C.K. refused to deliver a package to his home, but instead left a note to pick it up at the post office.

Gutierrez then saw C.K. across the street, so he asked about the package when he said C.K. threatened him, so Gutierrez punched C.K., officials said.

C.K. lost consciousness but refused medical treatment, according to authorities. He later sought treatment and C.K. has multiple cuts to his face, a bloody nose and a bruised eye, officials said.

Inspectors talked with C.K., who told them he and Gutierrez had issues in the past “due to different political views." He left a note for him to pick up the package at the post office to avoid another confrontation since the package he was supposed to deliver required a signature, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Court reports state C.K. told police that Gutierrez came across the street to confront him, so he tried to give the package to Gutierrez, who then punched him repeatedly.

Video of the assault was found, which shows Gutierrez throwing the initial punch at C.K. but he missed. Inspectors said the two men appear to argue before C.K. turns to walk away and Gutierrez punches him.

On Dec. 6, Gutierrez was arrested and charged with assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury, officials said.

He was released days from jail, police said.