A former deputy in New Mexico is under fire after slapping a boy four times in an incident that was captured on camera.
Ex-Sandoval County deputy Fred Switzer, 70, was charged with battery, a petty misdemeanor, in court on Friday, KOAT-TV reported. He could spend up to 6 months in jail and faces a $500.
The video appears to show Switzer slapping the teen several times in the back of a cruiser, which can be seen below (WARNING: The footage might be disturbing for some):
He has since been fired since the emergence of the footage. Switzer, who was a retired Albuquerque Police Department lieutenant, had been with the sheriff’s office for eight years.
An investigation by the New Mexico State Police found he used excessive force in the August 2015 incident, according to a complaint, reported ABQJournal.com.
The complaint doesn’t give the boy’s age, but reports have said he was 12. The boy was secured with leg shackles, a belly chain, handcuffs, and a seat belt in the back of the car.
Switzer was fired after an investigative investigation, spokesman Lt. Keith Elder told the Journal.
“An administrative investigation was done because he acted inappropriately by slapping a juvenile in custody,” Elder said. “A supervisor was close by when the incident occurred and reported it to the administration.”
