A jury's ruling that an Albuquerque Police officer used excessive force includes $200,000 in compensatory damages for physical and psychological injuries.
Jerry Rodriguez filed his lawsuit over a 2010 incident with police that took place a month after they questioned him about a homicide.
Rodriguez's truck looked like the vehicle that was involved in the crime, leading police to question him. He says he thought he was being carjacked when officers, who never identified themselves, pulled him to the ground.
Four Albuquerque police officers were named in the lawsuit, and Russell Perea was the only one found to have used excessive force.
The next phase of the trial starts in two weeks and will focus on municipal liability.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
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