A Denver police officer is on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation into whether he used excessive force on a 16-year-old.
Officer Charles Porter, of the gang bureau, is being investigated for his actions. When reached at his home, Porter declined to comment.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson confirmed Porter was on administrative leave but declined to give further details.
Jose Valasquez received a lacerated liver and broken ribs and was in the intensive-care unit at Denver Health Medical Center for at least two weeks, said Kenneth Padilla, a lawyer serving as a spokesman for the family.
“He was in bad shape,” said Padilla, who said he visited Valasquez in the hospital.
Padilla said Valasquez ran after police approached him to question him on an undisclosed matter. He said Valasquez described a situation in which several police officers were involved. The family is contemplating litigation, Padilla said.
“He was curled up by the fence,” Padilla said. “He was jumped on from the fence. They came down on him with both feet on him. He described it as being double stomped and said he was begging them to stop.”
The case will be reviewed by Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey’s office for possible criminal charges, which routinely happens with allegations of excessive force.
