A San Antonio police officer was fired after he punched a handcuffed suspect and shoved him into the side of a patrol vehicle, according to disciplinary records.
Former Officer Arturo Trevino was indefinitely suspended – effectively terminating his employment – on May 12 for his conduct during a December arrest at a West Side QuikTrip, according to a disciplinary report.
The report says Trevino violated department policies prohibiting physical and verbal abuse of inmates, as well as rules governing courtesy and conduct prejudicial to good order.
The incident occurred Dec. 20 during a foot pursuit in the 7000 block of Culebra Road, according to the report. Officers ultimately took the suspect into custody at a QuikTrip gas station.
According to the disciplinary report, Trevino arrived at the scene and searched the suspect, who began resisting and swearing at him. The report says Trevino then placed the suspect on the ground and twice told him to “shut the (expletive) up.”
Body-worn camera footage reviewed as part of the investigation appeared to show Trevino escorting the suspect to his patrol vehicle before pushing him into the front passenger door.
“Be careful, there is a car there,” Trevino said, according to the report.
The report says Trevino then threw the handcuffed suspect to the ground, injuring his elbow. While the suspect lay on his back, body camera footage captured Trevino punching him in the face three times with a closed fist.
Trevino then attempted to place the suspect in the back of the patrol vehicle, but the man stood in the doorway and refused to get inside. Body-worn camera footage reviewed during the investigation appeared to show Trevino slapping the suspect across the face with an open hand while telling him to “get inside the (expletive) car.”
The disciplinary report concluded that Trevino subjected the suspect to unnecessary physical violence and verbal abuse during the arrest.
“Officer Trevino’s actions render his continuance in office detrimental to effective law enforcement and the needs of the San Antonio Police Department,” the report states.
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This article originally published at Fired San Antonio officer accused of punching and slapping handcuffed suspect.