A Texas cop was suspended for a day after video footage from a police helicopter showed him kicking robbery suspect Luis Tinajaro, who had already surrendered on the ground with his hands up. Tinajaro suffered multiple broken ribs and several of his front teeth were knocked out.
Tinajaro had already been shot in the back while fleeing from police when he dropped his shotgun, ran through his parents’ home and into their backyard with a helicopter overhead.
The helicopter captured the footage of San Antonio cop Jonathan Reyes kicking Tinajaro on the ground, which led to Interim Chief Anthony Tervino suspending him, but only after San Antonio Express News investigated the the use of force used during the incident.
“Officer Reyes’ actions during the arrest brought reproach and discredit to both the department and himself,” the suspension paperwork states.
Tinajaro is now serving 15 years in state jail for robbing a Citgo with a shotgun, but said he passed out after being shot and doesn’t remember getting kicked. When he woke up in the hospital, three of his ribs were broken and he was missing his front teeth.
According to the suspension paperwork, Reyes was suspended for two days starting on May 15, 2015, however, the suspension would be reduced if no complaints of misconduct or use of force incidents were made against him.
Video was finally released of the incident.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/crime/article/Video-SAPD-officer-kicks-robber-who-s-trying-to-7957478.php#photo-10185592
