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El Paso Bar Shut Down Over Crime, Deadly Crash
31 Mar
Summary
- An East El Paso bar was shut down due to nearly 280 emergency calls.
- The bar is linked to a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a man in a wheelchair.
- Authorities cited a pattern of habitual criminal activity and safety violations.
Dirty Laundry, an East El Paso bar located at 3136 Trawood Dr., has been ordered to cease operations immediately following a temporary restraining order. This drastic measure comes after authorities documented nearly 280 emergency calls related to the property. The El Paso County Attorney's Office filed the lawsuit, labeling the establishment a "common nuisance" under Texas law.
The investigation, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, revealed a concerning pattern of habitual criminal activity facilitated by bar employees, including cocaine sales. The lawsuit detailed a history of violence, with 79 separate police case reports filed between February 2024 and March 2026 for incidents such as aggravated assault and terroristic threats.
Significantly, the bar's patrons were reportedly drinking at Dirty Laundry prior to a fatal hit-and-run crash on March 23, 2025, which claimed the life of a 59-year-old man in a wheelchair. Over the past two years, law enforcement has also linked 24 separate DWI incidents to individuals who had been at or near the establishment.
Authorities further cited numerous safety violations and that the bar had been operating without a valid "places of assembly" permit since July 2025. The temporary restraining order is the initial step in a legal process, with a hearing scheduled for April 7, 2026, to determine if the closure will be made permanent.
