A former Denver police officer connected to a recent $35,000 excessive force settlement, was arrested this week for allegedly beating his ex-wife’s boyfriend in Jefferson County.
On Sunday, John Diaz allegedly forced his way into his ex-wife’s home on South Deer Creek Road and assaulted the man, said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Diaz was arrested a few days later on suspicion of first-degree burglary, domestic violence, assault and criminal mischief, Kelley said.
The case has has since been turned over to the District Attorney’s Office.
In June, the city of Denver paid $35,000 to Mark Ashford, who said he had to be taken to the hospital following a March 2010 incident.
Ashford, who was 32 at the time, claimed that Diaz and Denver police officer Jeff Cook, beat him while he was walking his dogs near 20th and Little Raven streets.
Ashford said he saw a police officer pull a driver over for running a stop sign, then approached the car window and offered to testify that the driver had stopped.
Diaz retired before the case was reviewed by the department in August 2010.
The department did not sustain the allegations of excessive force against Cook, and independent monitor Richard Rosenthal agreed Cook’s actions were reasonable.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
