Jal is a small city in Lea County. It borders Texas. In a recent move by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, several police officers stand accused of unlawful conduct. The officers are charged with civil rights violations.
Two of the men are currently employed as police officers. A third man is now a former officer but was still on the payroll at the time of his indictment. Each of the men are facing two counts of deprivation of rights regarding a particular individual.
The alleged civil rights violation pertains to the Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people against unlawful search and seizure. Police officers must have justifiable reasons for the things they do during an investigation. In this case, the officers are accused of unreasonable seizure, unlawful arrest and unreasonable use of force. The individual in question suffered injuries during the incident. The police officers are accused of causing the injuries with the use of a dangerous weapon.
The individual, a 45-year-old man died while in the Jal police officers’ custody. The decedent had reportedly been shocked many times with a Taser during the arrest, which left visible injuries on his body. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as a drug overdose. However, the man’s family accepted a $5 million settlement from the city of Jal. It is not the first time one of the police officers has been named in a civil rights violation lawsuit. In such cases, it is critical to seek experienced legal support, as navigating the justice system can be challenging.