The Portland Police Department has terminated a now-former law enforcement officer after investigators allege that the corporal violated department policy, according to a news release.
In the message, officials described a Dec. 23 incident in which a person had been recording from a public area a police investigation taking place on a public road.
During the incident, then-Cpl. Alexander Vallejo “diverted his attention from the investigation and repeatedly instructed the citizen to leave,” according to the news release.
“The citizen remained and asked why he was required to do so,” the message states. “Corporal Vallejo stated that the citizen was interfering and subsequently placed him under arrest, handcuffed him, and placed him in a police vehicle.”
The person, who is not named in the news release, was sometime afterward released while still at the scene, officials state.
The person filed a complaint about two weeks later, according to the press release, leading to officials placing Vallejo on administrative leave and launching an internal investigation.
He was fired Jan. 7, two days after the person had contacted the department, according to the document.
“The investigation determined that the arrest was unwarranted and found that Corporal Vallejo violated department policies, procedures, and standards consistent with training and best practice,” the news release states.
“All investigative materials and evidence have been provided to the Texas Rangers for an independent criminal review,” it adds.
Vallejo could not immediately be reached for comment on Jan. 19.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Portland, TX, police corporal terminated for ‘unwarranted’ arrest
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
