Officers in Windsor, Virginia, showed guns, sprayed pepper and pushed a black U.S. Army officer to the ground during a traffic stop last December. During the stop, police officers believed the Army officer was missing a license plate on his new SUV.
Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario, who is black and Latino, complains about the incident, claiming that the two officers violated his rights guaranteed under the first and fourth amendments.
One of the officers, Joe Gutierrez, has been fired, city manager William Saunders confirmed to CNN late Sunday night. The other officer, Daniel Crocker, is still in police service, Saunders said.
A statement from the city did not give the date Gutierrez fired.
CNN unsuccessfully tried to reach the officers for comment. It is unclear whether they have legal representatives who will comment on their behalf. CNN also contacted Windsor Police Chief Rodney Riddle for comment.
The city has launched an investigation into the use of force in the incident.
“At the end of this investigation, it was determined that the policy of the Windsor Police Department was not being followed. This resulted in disciplinary action, and the requirements of the department for additional training were implemented from January and continue to this day. “Since then, Officer Gutierrez has also been fired,” the city said in a statement on Sunday.
Footage of the incident sparked widespread condemnation, including by Virginia government Ralph Northam, who called it “disturbing”. He said he “commands Virginia police to conduct an independent investigation.”