El Paso bar 'Dirty Laundry' shut down after hundreds of police calls

County judge orders immediate closure of bar linked to drug sales, violence, and fatal DWI crash

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:24pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered glass liquor bottle against a pitch-black background, capturing the gritty, investigative aesthetic of the Weegee photographic style to conceptually represent the criminal activity and public safety issues surrounding the shuttered bar.The closure of a notorious El Paso bar linked to drug sales, violence, and a fatal DWI crash underscores the urgent need to hold problem businesses accountable for compromising public safety.El Paso Today

A county judge in El Paso, Texas has ordered the immediate closure of the 'Dirty Laundry' bar after authorities linked the business to over 280 police calls, allegations of drug sales, repeated violence, and a fatal hit-and-run crash that may have involved an intoxicated patron. The county attorney's office filed a lawsuit against the bar's owners, describing it as a 'common nuisance' that endangered the surrounding community.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating problem businesses that enable criminal activity and compromise public safety in local communities. The closure of 'Dirty Laundry' sends a strong message that authorities will take decisive action to shut down establishments that repeatedly violate the law and put residents at risk.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the 'Dirty Laundry' bar generated over 280 emergency calls to police over the past two years, involving reports of drug trafficking, violent assaults, and a fatal hit-and-run crash. Undercover agents reported that bar employees facilitated cocaine sales on multiple occasions. The establishment also had a history of violence, including assaults on peace officers and security guards. Between February 2024 and March 2026, police generated 79 separate case reports tied to activity at the bar, including aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and public intoxication. Authorities also say the business routinely ignored state and local safety regulations, operating without a valid permit and with documented fire code violations.

  • Over the past two years, law enforcement documented 24 separate DWI incidents in which individuals involved had reportedly been at or near the 'Dirty Laundry' establishment.
  • The county judge's order to immediately close the bar was signed on March 30, 2026.
  • A hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2026 to determine if the bar will remain closed while the case proceeds.

The players

Christina Sanchez

The El Paso County Attorney who obtained the temporary restraining order to shut down the 'Dirty Laundry' bar.

Judge Bonnie Rangel

The 171st District Court judge who signed the order to immediately close the 'Dirty Laundry' bar.

3136 Trawood LLC

The limited liability company that owns the property where the 'Dirty Laundry' bar was located.

Ortequi Ltd Texas Limited Partnership

One of the defendants named in the lawsuit against the 'Dirty Laundry' bar.

Pro West Industries, Corp.

One of the defendants named in the lawsuit against the 'Dirty Laundry' bar.

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What they’re saying

“Public safety is non-negotiable. When a business knowingly permits violence and illegal drug activity, it endangers the families who live and work in the surrounding community. No establishment is entitled to operate in a manner that compromises the well-being of our residents.”

— Christina Sanchez, El Paso County Attorney

“Businesses, property owners, managers and their patrons share a collective duty to protect our fellow community members, including the critical obligation not to overserve individuals who may pose a danger to others by driving while intoxicated. When that duty is ignored, the consequences can be devastating.”

— Christina Sanchez, El Paso County Attorney

What’s next

A hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. in the 171st District Court to determine whether the 'Dirty Laundry' bar will remain closed while the case proceeds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges communities face in regulating problem businesses that enable criminal activity and compromise public safety. The decisive action taken by authorities to shut down the 'Dirty Laundry' bar sends a strong message that such establishments will not be tolerated, and that protecting the well-being of residents is the top priority.