photo credit: Windsor Police Dept.
Over the weekend, police bodycam footage went viral for an incident that occurred early December 2020 in Virginia.
In what was said to be a traffic stop, Windsor police pulled over Army Second Lt. Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, because they believed he was missing a license plate on his new SUV. As the footage shows, Nazario calmly pleaded with the officers to know why he was being pulled over but he was ultimately forced out of his vehicle as the Windsor officers pointed their guns at him, as well as pepper spraying and pushing the Army officer to the ground.
With a current law suit in action by Lt. Caron, the Windsor police has fired Joe Gutierrez as he is being investigated for excessive force. According to a statement from CNN, the investigation concluded that “Windsor Police Department policy was not followed. This resulted in disciplinary action, and department-wide requirements for additional training were implemented beginning in January and continue up to the present. Since that time, Officer Gutierrez was also terminated from his employment.” For the other officer involved, Daniel Crocker, is still employed.
The footage from the incident has sparked much outrage and opinion on the excessive seizure of the Army officer.
One of the officers involved in a controversial traffic stop of a Black and Latino Army lieutenant — has been fired.
Video shows how a Virginia officer pepper-sprayed Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario. He is now suing the officers.@EenaRuffini has the latest. pic.twitter.com/5GcZXoXQIF
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) April 12, 2021
