Police officer charged with assaulting motorcyclist in San Jerónimo neighbourhood, Asunción
An officer was charged with bodily injury after striking a citizen during a traffic stop in Asunción. Video of the incident went viral on social media.
Assistant officer charged after assaulting motorcyclist in Asunción
According to a report by ultimahora.com, prosecutor Sonia Sanguines, of the Specialised Unit for Criminal Acts Against Human Rights, charged assistant officer Juan José Martín Maqueda Leiva, 29, with bodily injury in the exercise of his functions. The Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed the charge.
The incident occurred on 1 June, in the San Jerónimo neighbourhood of Asunción, on Stella Maris avenue, near Asunción Port. Maqueda Leiva was captured on video striking citizen Diego Espínola, 31, with a slap while he was attempting to start his motorcycle in front of his home.
According to case details, Espínola and his partner were preparing to go to a pharmacy to buy medication for the woman's mother, who was suffering from fever at that time. When police officers approached to check the situation, the couple allegedly presented their identification for the traffic stop. It was at that moment when the uniformed officer unexpectedly struck the motorcyclist in the face with his fist, as he continued trying to start the vehicle.
Video of the incident went viral on social media the day after the incident, on Tuesday, which prompted the National Police to place the officer at the disposal of the institution's Internal Affairs Division. Additionally, the institution requested an administrative investigation "in order to clarify the circumstances of the procedure and determine the corresponding responsibilities".
The victim's partner publicly stated that she feared potential reprisals following the complaint.
Source: Google News PY — Asunción