An Española Jail officer was terminated last week after being charged with battering a man brought in for detox, according to Española Police.
Vicente Herrera, 31, an Española taxidermist, was detoxed at the facility for a period of time Jan. 3 under the supervision of officer Justin Romero, 21, according to the police report. Romero allegedly asked the shackled Herrera to move a mattress from one side of the cell to another and Herrera refused.
Romero then allegedly punched Herrera on his left cheek and several times in the forehead before kicking him in the stomach. After Herrera was released from the facility, he walked down Industrial Park Road and was offered a ride by Romero.
Romero allegedly told Herrera he had a bad argument with his girlfriend and was feeling upset, and then offered Herrera a cup of coffee at a gas station.
Later that day, Española Police took a report when Herrera complained of the alleged abuse. Police observed “a large bump on his left cheek and a lot of redness” and “two large bumps on the forehead,” the report states.
“I can’t say what the findings exactly were,” Sgt. Christian Lopez said of his investigation of the incident, which culminated in charges of bribery or intimidation of a witness, aggravated battery, and battery being filed against Romero.
Romero’s employment with Española Jail was terminated last week, Jail Director Ted Garcia said. There were “several other issues” with Romero’s work during his six months of employment, Garcia said, though he declined to describe those issues.
Romero, out on bond, declined Tuesday to comment for this story.