Marco Puente (2020)
Overview
On August 15, 2020, Keller Texas Police Department Sergeant Blake Shimanek stopped a vehicle driven by Dillon Puente. Dillon's father, Marco Puente, arrived and began to film the encounter from across the street. Officer Antik Tomer also responded. The incident was captured by the officers' body-worn cameras and police vehicle dash camera. Shimanek instructed Tomer to arrest and pepper spray Marco Puente for recording the incident.[1]
Puente was charged with interference with the public duties and obstructing a highway or other passageway.[2]
The charges against Puente were later dropped and he was released from jail.[3]
On August 19, 2020, an internal investigation concluded that Shimanek had violated the department's code of ethics and conduct, and general orders.[2]
On September 8, 2020, an internal investigation found that Shimanek had exhibited conduct unbecoming an officer and he was demoted two ranks to officer.[2][1]
Tomer was not punished.[1]
On December 14, 2020, Puente filed a federal lawsuit against the officers, alleging excessive force and unlawful arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment, retaliatory arrest in violation of the First Amendment, and deliberate interference in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.[4]
In January 2021, the lawsuit was settled for $200,000.[5]
On February 1, 2021, Shimanek resigned from the department.[3]
On May 7, 2021, Shimanek was charged with official oppression, a class A misdemeanor, and faces up to one year in jail.[6]
On October 20, 2022, Shimanek pleaded guilty to official oppression and forfeited his Texas peace officer license. Shimanek entered a diversion program, after which the case could be dismissed.[7]
Video
Officers Involved
Official Reports
Additional Sources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Former Keller Officer Indicted After Controversial Arrest Of Father Filming Son’s Traffic Stop, CBS 11, 2021-05-07
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Complaint Advisement Form, Keller Police Department
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keller Officer Blake Shimanek Resigns After Controversial Arrest Of Father Filming Son’s Arrest, CBS 11, 2021-02-01
- ↑ Puente v Shimanek, U.S. District Court, 2020-12-14
- ↑ Lori Brown, Keller to pay $200,000 to settle excessive force lawsuit against 2 officers, FOX 4, 2021-01-25
- ↑ Ex-Texas officer indicted after man pepper sprayed by police, AP News, 2021-05-09
- ↑ Former Keller officer pleads guilty to official oppression for pepper spraying father who was filming son's arrest, WFAA, 2022-10-20
Recent articles: Alfred Labrada, Tahmon Wilson (2023), Brice Guile, Brendan Crawley, Nathaniel Arias
