Police settle accusations against cop

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) - The northern New Mexico city of Las Vegas has settled with a woman who accused a police officer of attacking and bruising her while she was in custody.

Tony Ortiz, an attorney with the city's insurer, the New Mexico Municipal League, says Bernadette Varela will receive $31,000 under the settlement.

He says the Las Vegas Police Department did not agree it had done anything wrong.

Ortiz told the Las Vegas Optic the city chose to resolve the issue early rather than let it get more expensive.

The newspaper says Varela and her attorneys could not be reached for comment.

State police last year cleared Las Vegas police Sgt. Martin Salazar of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter.

Information from: Las Vegas Optic