Two Colorado deputies have been fired following an investigation into their use of excessive force during a traffic stop. Although the incident happened in 2022, the case was reviewed and deemed unacceptable.
Police brutality is a term that most people are familiar with. Although it has existed for about as long as the police have existed, it has become more known in recent news due to cellphone cameras and movements for racial justice.
On November 29, 2022, former officers Mikhail Noel and Henry Trujillo pulled Kenneth Espinoza’s son over. When Espinoza pulled over to support his son, Noel and Trujillo demanded he leave. Espinoza initially refused, but eventually got back in his car, at which point the officers demanded he stay.
Despite the former deputies saying that Espinoza attempted to kick both of them and tried to hit Noel with his car, the bodycam footage shows a completely different story. Espinoza never tried to assault either officer and was even compliant. This did not stop the former officers from shouting threats, profanities, and insults at the 61-year-old man, nor did it stop them from tasing the man 35 times. One of these taser darts was shot at Espinoza’s face, lodging in his lip.
The sheriff who initially reviewed the case, Undersheriff Reynaldo Santistevan, did not watch the bodycam footage upon his initial review, instead only checking the report for spelling and grammar errors. He has issued an apology, saying, “In hindsight, I now see this was wrong and should have reviewed all documents and watched all body camera videos before approving this use of force.”
This gross irresponsibility and brutality employed by the police force is absolutely unacceptable. The two officers involved have been fired from the force, and Espinoza is seeking legal action and suing the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office for failure to train and discipline their officers.
