Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Two Albuquerque SWAT Members Charged With 2014 Homicide Of Homeless Man

One current Albuquerque SWAT police officer and a retired police detective are facing homicide charges for the March 16, 2014 murder of James Boyd.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 13, 2014

Albuquerque, New Mexico - On Monday, Kari Brandenburg, the Bernalillo County District Attorney announce that one count of open murder charges were filed in the Second Judicial Court against two SWAT officers involved in the March 16, 2014 murder of James Boyd, 38, a homeless man. A former detective, Keith Sandy and current SWAT Police Officer Dominique Pérez are now facing homicide charges under an informations filing for transparency purposes. An investigative and transparency process informations filing avoids a grand jury inquiry, which is only used by the Bernalillo County D.A.'s office, according to D.A. Brandenburg.
Brandenburg said, that there was probable cause to proceed with open murder charges against both Sandy and Pérez and a judge will decide whether they will bound over for criminal charges. If Sandy and Pérez are charged with criminal homicide, the prosecutor's office would have multiple options from reckless homicide to involuntary manslaughter charges, but not limiting to these charges only.
A body lapel camera video from one officer captured Boyd, who suffered from schizophrenia appeared to surrender to the officers. As he slowly walked down a cliff, officers fired bean bags and a flash bomb. He fell as he tried to walk away. Boyd was ordered to put his hands up, but he could heard saying, "Please don't hurt me anymore. I can't move." Then Sandy and Pérez fatally shot him. 
Officers released a K-9 police dog who attacked Boyd and gnawed on his leg after he was shot dead.

Albuquerque police officers charged (Press conference) http://ow.ly/HeFZw

Officers kill Boyd, video at http://alturl.com/ufpeg

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