A black US army lieutenant is suing two police officers after they treated him brutally during a routine traffic stop. His vehicle had been stopped for failing to display license plates, though temporary plates are clearly visible.
The entire incident was caught on the officer's bodycam and has caused anger after being shared online.
The incident occurred in Virginia in December of last-year and involved Army Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario being stopped by a patrol car. The police officers then point their guns at Nazario and pepper-spray him, before taking him into custody. Nazario was wearing his army uniform at the time of his arrest.
During the stop, before being pulled form the car, the lieutenant can be heard saying:
"I'm honestly afraid to get out."
To which an officer replied:
"Yeah you should be."
The incident occurred just months after huge protests swept the United States against racism and police brutality. An officer telling a black suspect that he should be scared while pointing a gun at him could reasonably be assumed to be a direct threat.
Nazario was later released without charge.
In a lawsuit against the two officers, it is said that Nazario's constitutional rights were violated, including by being assaulted, being illegally searched and being illegally detained. He is seeking $1 million in damages.
One of the officers has since been fired from his position.
A statement was released following the sacking, which said:
"At the conclusion of this investigation, it was determined that Windsor Police Department policy was not followed. This resulted in disciplinary action, and department-wide requirements for additional training were implemented beginning in January and continue up to the present. Since that time, Officer Gutierrez was also terminated from his employment."
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said of the footage:
"Our Commonwealth has done important work on police reform, but we must keep working to ensure that Virginians are safe during interactions with police, the enforcement of laws is fair and equitable and people are held accountable."
[h/t: BBC]
COMMENTS