City: DOJ asked APD about certain cases

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The city's Chief Administrative Officer confirmed Monday that the Department of Justice contacted the Albuquerque Police Department about certain cases. APD brass, however, could not say Monday night which cases are in question.

"(Police Chief Ray Schultz) has had some conversation with the Department of Justice," said CAO Rob Perry. "We have not received any information about any sort of pattern or practice investigation from the Department of Justice.

"There has been some inquiry with some of the cases, I understand, and review, but as far as notification from the Department of Justice, as far as their intent, we haven't received any."

Protestors, who are upset with APD's use of force, have been calling on the DOJ to launch an investigation for more than a year. They were out in full force at Monday's council meeting, following recently released lapel video, which led to charges against one officer and an investigation into two others for going too far when using their tasers.

Lapel video from an arrest in May shows officers forcing their way into an apartment without an warrant and then tasing a suspected drug dealer up to four times to get him to surrender.

Video from that same incident also show cops stepping on another suspect’s head, then striking him three times on his upper body after that after the man voluntarily gets on the ground with his hands behind his back.

So far Officer Connor Rice     has been charged with battery and aggravated battery, he is on paid suspension. Two other officers, Shad Solis and Ronald Surran, have been put on desk duty.

APD leadership said it didn’t know about the video until KRQE News 13 requested it two months after those arrests.

At this point APD still can’t say if a supervisor watched the video and let it slide or if no one at APD had watched the tape, which is supposed to be mandatory when tasers are used.

In another tasing incident, News 13 learned a sergeant asked APD leadership for an internal investigation after an officer tased a domestic violence suspect who was hiding underneath a car.

That incident would be a violation of two APD policies because it's considered dangerous and unnecessary.

Protestors said it is a cover-up and said it's more evidence the DOJ needs to step in.

"Are we going to allow that in our city? We're better than that. We have to stand together," said protestor Preston Wood.

The mayor's office and Police Chief Ray Schultz have been opposed to a DOJ investigation but said they will cooperate if the feds decide to look into the department.