A Denver police officer has been formally charged with assaulting a juvenile.
The officer, Charles Porter, a 12-year veteran of the Denver Police Department, was charged with first-degree assault, according to 9News.
He is accused of repeatedly jumping on 16-year-old Juan “Willie” Vasquez’s back last month after he said he saw him drink alcohol.
The incident happened April 18 in the 1500 block of West 37th Avenue.
Lawyers for Vasquez filed a lawsuit accusing five Denver Police officers of police brutality. Vasquez is recovering from broken ribs, kidney injuries and a lacerated liver.
Porter is on unpaid leave from the gang unit, pending the outcome of the case. He is scheduled to be formally advised of the charges on Friday in Denver County Court.
