Good Samaritan Brutalized by New Mexico State Police Speaks Out
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2020
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed a lawsuit against a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, alleging that NMSP officer Sondre Loberg used excessive force against Dametrio Maldonado, 57, who is Native American and a member of Acoma Pueblo, during a routine traffic incident in May 2019. The complaint alleges that Mr. Maldonado, who called emergency services to the scene of a car crash, suffered lasting injury and pain after responding officer Loberg targeted him for violent and discriminatory treatment at the scene.
“Our client was simply trying to do the right thing by rendering aid to a crashed motorist,” said ACLU of New Mexico Indigenous Justice Attorney Preston Sanchez, “Instead of thanking him for doing what any humane and civic minded person would do, a responding NMSP officer singled him out for harassment and abuse resulting in lasting injury. This incident blatantly reflects a system of policing in New Mexico that is racially biased. We cannot allow those practices to continue.”
On May 26, 2019, Mr. Maldonado and his daughter Ellen were driving westbound on I-40 on the way to do volunteer work in preparation for the Acoma Seed Run. After exiting the interstate at the turnoff for Acoma Pueblo, they came upon a single car collision at the interstate overpass and observed a woman sitting on the ground near the wrecked vehicle in distress. Mr. Maldonado pulled over to the side of the overpass and his daughter exited the vehicle to render aid while he called 911.
Acoma Tribal Police quickly arrived at the scene, followed by Officer Loberg shortly thereafter. Loberg immediately zeroed in on Mr. Maldonado who was waiting in his vehicle for his daughter on the shoulder of the overpass and began screaming at him to move his car. Mr. Maldonado politely smiled in acknowledgement and proceeded to drive his car past the overpass and park further down the road to wait.
Taking Maldonado’s polite acknowledgement as insult, Loberg whipped his patrol vehicle around to follow Maldonado, removed him from his vehicle and wrenched Maldonado’s arms behind his back in an attempt to place him in cuffs. Due to Maldonado’s large stature, his wrists were unable to meet behind his back and the officer’s violent attempts to force them together caused him excruciating pain. Officer Loberg accused Maldonado of trying to “fight him” and slammed him against the hood of his patrol unit with enough force that Maldonado’s phone screen shattered in his pocket.
Secured with two pairs of handcuffs biting deep into his wrists, Mr. Maldonado was forced to sit in the back of Officer Loberg’s patrol unit in severe pain for nearly twenty minutes until the responding Acoma Sergeant convinced Loberg to release him. Before allowing Mr. Maldonado to continue on his way, Officer Loberg subjected him to additional verbal harassment and issued him a citation for “unlawful parking.”
“It was a humiliating and scary experience,” said Mr. Maldonado. “I didn’t do anything wrong, but I was afraid the officer was going to kill me if I made the wrong move. I don’t want any other person to have to go through the same thing I did that day.”
The injuries Mr. Maldonado’s sustained in the encounter required a visit to the emergency room and subsequent physical therapy. His physical injuries from the incident forced him to forgo farming activities during the subsequent growing and harvest seasons, depriving his family and community of the crops he normally grows.
The lawsuit filed today by the ACLU of New Mexico asks the court to award damages and other relief on behalf of Mr. Maldonado.
we need a higher standard for people going into law enforcement, a way higher standard.
You mean 'Able to breath OR knuckles touch the floor is not enough?
I definitely agree that Standards should be higher. Unfortunately Higher Standards will only come with more training, new resources, and higher pay; all things that will cost a ton of money that the Government has shown it will not spend in the Public's best interest.
What's interesting is that the same low standards, produce both the best and worst cops in every department. I think it truly comes down to individual character, regardless of training and vetting. Psychopaths are some of the most intelligent and best liars among us. You'd be hard pressed to come up with standards or training that weed these people out.
A total abuse of power. Officers like this need to be dismissed immediately. Prayers for you, Dametrio. No good comes to those who abuse others.
It's a small rural road with little traffic and you can see that in the video. Stop making excuses for thug cops.
@Joseph Smith I hope you never need help on the side of a road ! If this is how you are treated for trying to help somebody then no one will stop to help anymore.
The officer also made a threat "Hopefully you learned something today. If I have any further interactions with you this will come up, I'll remember this ok?" Several U.S. states have enacted statutes which impose criminal liability for "terroristic threatening" or "making a terroristic threat."
Perhaps the word "terroristic" has got you confused but the officer's statement was a treat of violence and fits the definition "A terroristic threat is a threat to commit a crime of violence or a threat to cause bodily injury to another person and terrorization as the result of the proscribed conduct." It's not about being a terrorist as the word is used today. Hope that helps.
@Joseph Smith a fine specimen of american I see
@Joseph Smith You are a special kind of stupid!
@Joseph Smith
Yes it is TRUE COPS CAN CHARGE YOU FOR TERRORIST THREATS IT'S THE LAW.
@Joseph Smith
What a cop "thinks" is immaterial. He is there to enforce laws, not punish citizens for smiling. The treatment is inexcusable.
The cops are there to assist and help each other. Citizens are simply an inconvenience or a criminal to them. They feel they can do whatever they want to do.
Thank you ACLUNM.
ONE POLICE OFFICOR BROKE MY RIB CAGE I CALLED LAWYERS TO HELP ME BUT LAWYERS WERE TO SCARED TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINTS THE NYPD BUT GOD IS UP THERE KARMA WILL COME BACK. I HOPE THAT POLICE OFFICOR THAT BROKE MY RIB BURNS IN HELL.
Wow what a shame...the officer needs to be fired and sued....i bet the officer was thinking he was John Wayne...cowboys and Indians we know how that game ended up
to be fair state troopers see lots of death. he might’ve been angry that this guy put him and his daughter in danger. 🤷♂️
We need to start recording these cops... We have a right to record them... We need to call in the cop watchers... From TH-cam .. teach these fools that they can't run with the thin blue line gangsters... This just pisses me off...
I will remember You . That was a future death threat in " street lingo " without the exact words .
Next time be ready when you see him!!!
Guess this means next time a cop needs help, just pass on by.
I hope this police officer was fired , disgrace to the uniform cause the hate and disconnect must bring him to account stay safe retired lifeboatmen uk
This civil mistreatment by a Police Officer should seem something unusual to us... But the reality shows that it is verry common and frequent. Until when will we tolerate the graduates of the GESTAPO Academy? Who rules this country, We The People, or the Police State?
What happened to psych exams before entering the academy then again before being hired by an LE agency. This "officer's" ego is too easily bruised and is probably better suited to any career where he has authority over NO ONE.
Garbage man ?
He passed the test. There is no doubt that the officer is a psycho.
The law enforcement career isn't for everyone that state trooper has anger management issues , needs to leave the force if you can't handle the stress or you can't handle your own cool then don't be a cop its simple enough to know.
I am a former reserve LE and current fire fighter. The badge in a New Mexico is a them vs us attitude. Even toward good samaritans. It is reason why I said no to the law end of a badge. Fire and ems are also treated like this from law enforcement. nmsp Should be a higher standard. Officer like this need to be removed. It is ones like these hired in a buddy epson system in new meico where mentel.and physical standards are lied on paper work and these get in makingnale Enforcement bad as we seen in the George floyd case. I spent hours contacting people ehonvouched they had got that officer in as a friend and this is a reality where law Enforcement has its issues.
Bad cops are giving all cops a bad name. Its also creating a dangerous atmosphere thats going to result in lives lost.
I don’t think it was race-influenced, I think it was a power trip for the cop
I hate cops because I saw them arrest my dad for nothing on family movie night. -Oh but he had an " attitude"
Sue the shit out of them
The cop told him to stand in front of he car with the intention of assaulting him for small natural body movements such as turning around when someone talks to you.
I am pretty sure that an exception came be made when someone is unlawfully parking at the scene of a car crash in order to see if they can help anyone in need of help.
Earning the HATE
horrible bully
Racism is awful... when it comes from a law enforcement officer it's really maddening and upsetting to see.
Officer is cleary sick.
NMSP investigated themselves and found that officer justified in using force.
Why play music during the video, it makes it hard to hear and it is dumb.
Homie's mistake was thinking he could stop and offer help when rolling up to a scene with 3 cop cars. Shoulda just kept driving.
I raised my kids from the get go telling them the police are not there friends and to always record any interaction with cops and to learn their rights
Q.I. gone JAIL time civil sue cop lose college money savings house cars all homeless penniless then these bad cops will think 100000 times before they get out of their patrol car to harrass people....
Your mistake is because you care...
First off I support the men and women that have fought for our country, and the citizens of this great nation. Our government and we as the people in our country do not do enough for them.
With more and more veterans choosing law enforcement for a sustainable career after serving, the psychological evaluations for becoming a police officer need an immediate and complete reformed methodology. The same should be given to those that did not serve as well.
Sounds like the officer needs a little "physical therapy". Very physical.
The cop should go to prison and a law suit is in order
Is he still employed
How about raising your children to be aware and smart. Did you forget what happened to us?!
Name the officer
Person like doesn't deserve to be a law enforcement officer he's only deserve to be a thrash man
Get a good look at there plate and unit number. That's there title and will come up in there computer system.
There are a proliferation of videos like this... keep filming.
Show the whole video. You show the edited one that makes the officer look bad. There’s two sides to every story. Don’t judge till you hear the other dude. Funny how bad guys seem so innocent after the fact. I’m sure his motive is money.
RIP Omar. 🙏
Sorry this happened to you
This is an interesting case. There has to be more to this story.
Why shouldn't natives be subject ......how rude ........
It could be because --maybe--, what this Police Officer wants, is to avenge what they did to George Custer. LOL
AGAIN, police need better training and pay. Discrimination is a thing of the past. The police was wrong. jh
The blms must work this police man out
I'm sorry this happened. But he should have stayed in his car and asked the Officer if he needed help. The Officer doesn't know this man and may have thought he had something to do with the crash. Remember, we are living in the Twilight Zone.