Rio Colorado police officer loses firearm following domestic violence complaint
A woman filed a domestic violence complaint against her partner, a provincial police officer, alleging beatings, strangulation attempts and death threats. The Peace Court ordered the immediate removal of his service weapon.
Police officer accused: firearm removed following serious domestic violence allegations
According to lmcipolletti.com, a woman filed a domestic violence complaint against her partner, a provincial police force officer stationed in Rio Colorado. The Peace Court of the district ordered, among other precautionary measures, the preventative and immediate removal of the officer's service firearm. The case was also forwarded to the Criminal Court and the Family Court of Luis Beltrán.
The couple had been in a relationship for two months. The complainant, mother of an infant, recounted that for the past week the officer had begun displaying hostile behaviour, although she later clarified that the abuse was earlier and constant. The filing was classified under Law 3040 on Comprehensive Protection Against Violence in the Context of Family Relations, which enabled the opening of proceedings in the Peace Court of Rio Colorado.
Insults, beatings and threats documented in the complaint
The victim described a series of incidents involving insults, beatings, shoving and strangulation attempts. She recounted that on Wednesday morning both of them went out in a pickup truck towards the city centre, and that during an argument the accused "drove the ignition key" into her neck, leaving a visible mark. At that moment there was a police officer nearby. The accused then warned her: "now you're going to get down calmly, smile, they're watching us".
That same evening, according to her statement, a comment made during dinner sparked a fresh attack. The man grabbed her by the throat to strangle her whilst saying: "one comes along with money and you go after him". When she tried to defend herself and scratched his face, he responded: "go on, scratch me so tomorrow they throw me out of my job". He then forced her back into the kitchen, knocked over plates and cutlery, and stabbed himself in the chest with a knife whilst saying: "you're going to stab me, look, I already have several stab wounds".
The assault with the baby present and death threats
The complainant added that, on the day before filing the formal complaint, the police officer checked her mobile phone and became agitated by some notifications. He went to the bedroom where she was lying down with her baby, threw himself on top of her, strangled her, pulled her hair and struck her face with the phone whilst demanding explanations. After that assault, he told her: "I have no problem spending my entire salary to have you killed".
The threats were not limited to her. The woman stated that the accused threatened to set fire to her parents' house "with everyone inside" if she reported him, and warned about the life of her father and an uncle. According to the victim, the officer claimed that the uncle "was going to pull strings to get him removed from Rio Colorado". She also noted that "all the time he threatens her that if she reports him everything will go bad".
Additionally, the complainant indicated that the accused deleted the security camera application from her mobile phone, thus erasing recordings of the assaults. On the afternoon she filed the complaint, she recounted that he did not allow her to get out of the pickup truck when they arrived at her parents' house. When her father came out to ask what was happening, an argument ensued that allowed her to descend from the vehicle and enter the house.
The victim added that on more than one occasion she attempted to leave the residence, but the accused "grabbed her by the hair whilst holding her baby in his arms". He also forced her to block the director of the institution where she works, calling him a "slacker".
Measures ordered by the Peace Court
Acting Peace Court Judge Daniela Alberdi issued a set of provisions to protect the woman, subsequently ratified by another magistrate. The most prominent was the preventative and immediate removal of the officer's service firearm, with urgent intervention by Police Command.
A prohibition on approaching within a radius of no less than 300 metres of the complainant's residence and her family group was also established, as well as a prohibition on any type of contact that could compromise her physical, mental, emotional or sexual integrity. All contact via phone calls, text messages or social media is equally prohibited.
The court warned the accused that non-compliance with the measures will be considered disobedience to a court order, with involvement of the Public Prosecutor's Office. The proceedings will in any case be forwarded to the on-duty Public Prosecutor's Office, given the possible existence of offences within the framework of gender or family violence.
Another of the measures orders the restitution of the victim's belongings from the property they shared. The operation may be carried out by a third party of the woman's choosing, who has the right to request police accompaniment.
Finally, the Peace Court summoned the accused to a hearing scheduled for Wednesday the 16th, with mandatory attendance and the possibility of bringing a lawyer. The precautionary measures will remain in force until new evidence justifies any possible modifications.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz