For Immediate Release
September 30, 2010

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg today announced that a Travis County grand jury completed its review of an incident on December 1, 2009, involving former Austin police officer Michael Olsen and a 13 year-old juvenile at the Las Palmas Apartments on Town Lake Circle in Austin.

At that time, Olsen was employed by Ranger Security Company. The company had recently entered into a contract to provide security for the Las Palmas apartment complex.

On December 1st, Olsen and one of the owners of Ranger Security, David Jarrett, were informed by the apartment manager that Maria Rivas and her sons were occupying apartment 516 but had no contract or lease agreement to live there. Olsen, Jarrett and a Las Palmas maintenance employee went to apartment 516 where Olsen and Jarrett confronted Rivas, telling her that she would have to vacate the apartment.

Olsen’s actions angered the 13 year-old son of Maria Rivas. Just outside the apartment, Olsen and the 13 year-old engaged in a short physical altercation.

In statements to police, Rivas and her son alleged that Olsen pushed him against a wall and pressed a flashlight into his chest and throat area. Olsen denied the assault, stating that the juvenile charged him and that he was merely pushing the juvenile away to stop his aggression.

The grand jury took testimony and reviewed statements from all of the participants and witnesses to the incident.

A no bill was filed with the court yesterday, concluding the grand jury’s review.

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