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Grand Rapids, MI - After a Las Vegas-based FBI special agent was arrested for shooting at police in a bizarre episode at a fitness club, his partner showed up at police headquarters armed and drunk, reports say.
John Paul Salazar II was not arrested but the FBI is investigating his actions in the hours after his partner, Ruben Hernandez, fired at police Sgt. Neil Gomez outside of Planet Fitness at 3681 28th St. SE.
"It should be noted that Salazar seemed intoxicated to all officers speaking to him in the lobby," Deputy Chief Daniel Savage wrote in police reports.
"It was eventually determined that Salazar was armed - (special agent Sean Burns) took possession of Salazar's handgun upon (Burns') arrival."
Grand Rapids police interviewed Salazar before he left with Burns, who was in charge of the Grand Rapids office before his recent retirement.
Police Sgt. Terry Dixon said investigators focused on Salazar as a witness but provided reports about his actions to the FBI and U.S. Office of Inspector General to determine if any discipline should be taken.
Dixon said that Salazar should not have possessed a firearm after drinking.
He said police "basically turned everything over to the FBI, to allow them to handle the issues with him."
Police reports showed that Salazar's rented Nissan Versa was parked outside of police headquarters. Salazar later opened the car door in the presence of police to retrieve items.
No one witnessed Salazar driving the vehicle, police said.
Salazar did not drive away.
"He did not leave on his own accord. He left with the FBI special agent," Dixon said.
Sandy Breault, spokeswoman for the FBI's Las Vegas office, said:
"The FBI takes allegations of misconduct very seriously. This matter has been referred to the FBI's Internal Investigations Section in Washington, DC. Because this is an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further."
Police said Hernandez, after a night of drinking, brandished a handgun inside Planet Fitness around 1:15 a.m. then fired three shots at responding officers.
No one was injured. Police arrested Hernandez at gunpoint in a nearby parking lot. There, they learned he was an FBI agent.
Hernandez, who has lost his job, pleaded no contest to felonious assault and could avoid a jail sentence in a plea deal.
He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.13 percent - a motorist is presumed intoxicated at 0.08 percent - and no memory of the incident.
He apparently suffered an alcohol-fueled paranoia attack.
A married father of two, he worked eight years for the FBI. He could not believe he shot at police, his attorney said.
Hernandez and Salazar were in Grand Rapids to conduct interviews as part of an investigation into a telemarketing scheme, police reports said.