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Virginia police officer accused of assaulting US Army officer fired

Reuters

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Virginia police officer accused of assaulting US Army officer fired

PEPPER SPRAYED. US Army 2nd Lieutenant Caron Nazario reacts as he holds up his hands after being sprayed with a chemical agent by Windsor police officer Joe Gutierrez during a violent traffic stop at a gas station in a still image from Gutierrez's body camera taken in Windsor, Virginia, on May 12, 2020.

Handout photo by Windsor Police/via Reuters

Officer Joe Gutierrez is fired after an investigation determined he did not follow local police department policies, the town of Windsor, Virginia says in a statement

One of two police officers in Virginia accused of assaulting a US Army lieutenant by pointing their guns and pepper spraying him during a traffic stop has been fired, according to an official statement.

Officer Joe Gutierrez was terminated from his employment after an investigation determined he did not follow policies of the local police department, the town of Windsor, Virginia said in a statement on Sunday, April 11.

The statement did not detail any breaches or punishments for the other officer involved in the incident, Daniel Crocker.

The firing comes after Army officer Caron Nazario filed a lawsuit against the two police officers in federal court over what court papers say was a violent traffic stop on Dec. 5, 2020, where officers pointed their guns, knocked him to the ground, pepper sprayed him and “threatened to murder him.”

Nazario, who is Latino and Black, alleged Gutierrez and Crocker violated his constitutional rights, with his lawsuit including assault, illegal search and illegal detention.

Earlier on Sunday, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said he was directing the Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation into the case.

Windsor town joined the governor in calling for an investigation of the incident by the Virginia police and a full review of the actions of the two police officers. – Rappler.com

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