A Pueblo woman is suing a police officer for using excessive force after she was shocked with a Taser while lying on the ground, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday.
The lawsuit alleges that Cristy Gonzales was hit with two probes in the small of her back near her spine after she was pulled over for allegedly stealing a truck in February 2022.
The incident was captured on body camera footage, which shows Gonzales getting out of the truck and being ordered to get onto the ground by police officer Bennie Villanueva.
After another officer grabbed one of her arms, Gonzales got down on her knees and then appeared to be pushed to the ground, when Villanueva deployed his Taser into her back.
According to the lawsuit, Gonzales was hit with two probes in the small of her back near her spine. It says she continues to have numbness and difficulty using her right hand since the Taser was used on her.
The lawsuit also alleges that the Pueblo Police Department failed to report the incident to the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training board, which oversees police certification in the state. If the incident had been reported, Villanueva would have lost his certification to work as a police officer for at least a year, the lawsuit said.
"The Pueblo Police Department lied to the POST board, just plain and simple," said Kevin Mehr, Gonzales' lawyer.
A telephone message left for Villanueva was not returned Monday. The Pueblo Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.
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