Two officers will be prosecuted in New Mexico for the beating of a man who was detained by the Las Cruces Police Department. The man suffered a serious injury after the officers allegedly beat him in his jail cell. The Dona Ana County District Attorney and New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas are prosecuting the case.
The 47-year-old man was taken into custody on Christmas Even in 2014. He was arrested on suspicion of more than one charge of aggravated assault. Later, surveillance video shows that the man was kicking the door of his cell while being held at the Las Cruces Police Department.
Next, two officers can be seen on the video entering the cell and throwing the man up against the wall. They are further seen wrestling him to the floor. Following an internal investigation, the officers were terminated.
The incident caused the man to suffer a fractured skull, which led to a brain hemorrhage and other injuries. The injured man has since brought a personal injury action against Las Cruces for damages. He is asking for $12.5 million in compensation from the city.
Laws exist to protect New Mexico inmates from harsh treatment. If you or your loved one has suffered a serious injury after being unfairly treated by police, you may have the ability to pursue personal injury claims for damages. Before bringing any such action forward in court, it is important to consider every aspect of the claim, including how the injuries came about, the extent of the injuries, and what parties are potentially liable.
Source: fronterasdesk.com, “2 New Mexico Officers To Face Grand Jury In Beating Incident“, Monica Ortiz Uribe, May 27, 2015
