Kenneth Espinoza (2022)
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Overview
On November 29, 2022, Espinoza was driving his vehicle to a mechanic while his son shadowed him in another vehicle. Las Animas County Colorado Sheriff's Office Deputy Mikhail Noel was also on the road and stopped Espinoza's son for following Noel too closely. During the stop, Espinoza pulled to the side of the road to wait for his son.[1]
Lieutenant Henry Trujillo approached Espinoza to determine why he had stopped at the scene. Trujillo told Espinoza that he needed to leave or he faced arrest. Noel also told Espinoza to leave. When Espinoza attempted to back out of the scene, both officers pulled weapons and ordered him to stop. Noel claimed that Espinoza tried to hit him with the truck. Espinoza was removed from his vehicle and handcuffed. Espinoza's lawyer claims that the officers tased him about 35 times during the incident.[1][2]
An officer continued to argue with Espinoza at the jail.[3]
The incident was captured on officers' body-worn cameras.[1]
Both officers reported that Espinoza was uncooperative and tried to kick them.[1]
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office opened an investigation.[2]
On May 5, 2023, Espinoza and his son filed federal civil rights lawsuits against the agency and the officers.[4]
On August 25, 2023, the officers were fired for violating agency policies, including inappropriately using a Taser while Espinoza was handcuffed and filing an inaccurate report about the incident.[1]
On December 4, 2023, Noel voluntarily surrendered his certification.[5]
On March 4, 2024, the county agreed to pay Espinoza $1.5 million to settle his lawsuits.[2]
In May 2024, Trujillo and Noel were charged with assault, official misconduct, official oppression, menacing, and failure to intervene.[6]
Officers Involved
Public Comments
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2 Colorado deputies who stunned a man multiple times are fired after a probe, NBC News, 2023-09-12
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matt Moret, Las Animas County reaches $1.5 million settlement with man tased in face by deputies, CPR News, 2024-03-04
- ↑ RAW: Body camera footage shows deputy berating man after using Taser on him on traffic stop, 9News, 2023-07-19
- ↑ Colorado man sues Las Animas County sheriff after being pulled from truck and tased repeatedly, KRCC, 2023-05-05
- ↑ Peace Officer CO-980-155, Colorado Attorney General
- ↑ Julianna O'Clair, Former Las Animas County sheriff’s deputies charged for Tasing unarmed man, Denver Post, 2024-07-08
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