The army’s top-notch leader on Monday expressed his support for the army officer involved in an incident captured on camera in which two police officers in Virginia pulled out their guns and sprayed pepper spray during a traffic stop.
Sgt. Army Major Michael Grinston tweeted that he was “concerned about the video” of Caron Nazario, a second lieutenant, suing police officers involved in the December incident at a gas station in the southeastern town of Windsor has.
“He represented himself and our military well through his calm, professional response to the situation. I am very proud of him,” Grinston wrote.
Nazario filed a lawsuit earlier this month, alleging that officers violated his constitutional rights during the traffic jam, citing the ‘disgusting nationwide tendency of law enforcement officers, who … abuse unprofessional, willful, racially biased, dangerous and sometimes deadly. of authority. ”
In the footage, Nazario, who is black and Latino, is seen dressed in his uniform and holding his hands up and holding at the window of his parked car at a gas station while officers aim their guns at him.
Officers ordered Nazario with a gun to get out of his vehicle, to which he responded, “I am honestly afraid to get out.”
“Yes, it must be you!” one can hear one of the cops say.
An officer then repeatedly sprayed Nazario after trying to open his car door.
One of the police officers has since been fired. Virginia government Ralph Northam (D) announced Sunday that he is instructing Virginia police to conduct an independent investigation into the traffic jam.
Grinston said he could not comment on ongoing lawsuits, but that Nazario “receives the support of his leadership that he needs during this time.”
‘Such situations are what I want soldiers to discuss. This is the reality that some of our soldiers still face. As a leader, you need to know this and be prepared to have conversations about how such opportunities affect your teams, ‘Grinston wrote.