By Mychael Schnell - 04/11/21 09:43 PM EDT
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced on Sunday that he is directing the Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation into a December traffic stop that ended with two Windsor police officers pepper-spraying an Army officer.
“The incident in Windsor is disturbing and angered me - and I am directing the Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation,” Northam wrote in a statement posted to Twitter.
“Our Commonwealth has done important work on police reform, but we must keep working to ensure that Virginians are safe during interactions with police, the enforcement of laws is fair and equitable, and people are held accountable,” he continued.
Virginia governor orders probe of traffic stop Author: Rachel Chason, The Washington Post Updated: 10 hours ago
Print article Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Sunday that he is directing Virginia State Police to investigate a traffic stop during which two police officers held an Army second lieutenant at gunpoint in the southeastern part of the state. Northam, a Democrat, said the incident - in which body-camera footage shows police pepper-spraying, striking and handcuffing Caron Nazario - “is disturbing and angered me.” Nazario, 27, who is Black and Latino, filed a lawsuit this month against Windsor Officers Joe Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker that alleges excessive force due to racial profiling.
A Virginia police officer involved in a controversial traffic stop last December where officers drew their guns at a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, has been fired.
Monday, 12 Apr 2021 09:34 AM MYT
US Army 2nd Lieutenant Caron Nazario exits his vehicle after being sprayed with a chemical agent by Windsor police officer Joe Gutierrez in a still image from officer Daniel Crocker s body camera, Windsor, Virginia May 12, 2020. Windsor Police handout
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WASHINGTON, April 12 The governor of the US state of Virginia vowed a full investigation yesterday after footage emerged of two police officers detaining a Black army officer at gunpoint and pepper-spraying him in the face.
Lieutenant Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, repeatedly asked what he had done wrong and said, “This is really messed up,” as the officers holding guns demanded he get out of his car.