A woman in Pueblo, Colorado, who was shocked with a Taser while lying on the ground last year, is now suing the police officer responsible and the city’s police chief. Cristy Gonzales, who was suspected of stealing a vehicle, filed a federal lawsuit accusing the police department of failing to report excessive force by the officer to state regulators. The lawsuit claims that the police department found that Cpl. Bennie Villanueva had indeed used excessive force against Gonzales and another person, but withheld this information from the state board responsible for overseeing law enforcement qualifications.
According to the lawsuit, if the excessive force had been reported, Villanueva would have lost his certification to work as a police officer for at least a year. Gonzales was suspected of stealing a truck in February 2022 and did not stop for Villanueva. Eventually, the vehicle ran out of gas. After Gonzales got out of the truck, Villanueva ordered her to the ground. Body camera footage shows that she was pushed to the ground and Villanueva deployed his Taser into her back.
The lawsuit states that Gonzales was hit with two probes in the small of her back, causing ongoing numbness and difficulty using her right hand. The police chief and the city’s police union have not responded to requests for comment. Villanueva could not be located for comment either.
After the arrest video was seen by the assistant district attorney, an excessive force complaint was filed, leading to an internal police investigation. As a result, the police chief issued a letter of reprimand against Villanueva for his conduct in the Gonzales case, as well as for violating department policies in two other cases. While the letter acknowledged that Villanueva used the Taser on Gonzales “for no apparent reason,” it also attributed it to the officer’s reaction to a highly stressful situation.
The lawsuit further alleges that the Pueblo Police Department failed to report any “disqualifying incidents” to the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training board in 2022, as required. Kevin Mehr, Gonzales’ lawyer, stated that the police department “lied to the POST board, just plain and simple.”
This case highlights concerns about excessive force by law enforcement and the importance of reporting such incidents to ensure accountability and public trust in the police.
