Fees have been dropped towards a San Francisco man arrested final February for allegedly assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest following an altercation that despatched the person to a hospital with a number of bruises and a fractured cheekbone.
In February 2021, Sergio Lugo was stopped and questioned by officers who have been searching for suspects in a close-by housebreaking, based on The Related Press. After officers stated they meant to go looking him, Lugo stated they'd no proper to try this and advised the 2 officers he was going to stroll away.
"With none verbal warning, the 2 officers grabbed his arm, kicked his legs out from below him, and pinned him on the bottom," the general public defender's workplace, representing Lugo, stated.
A 3rd officer who noticed the incident and intervened stated he recalled hitting Lugo 15 to 25 occasions.
The officers alleged that they approached Lugo after seeing a metallic object in his palms, which after Lugo was pinned to the bottom was revealed to be an X-Acto knife, and the thing allegedly triggered cuts to at least one officer's hand and leg.
Lugo was hit with a number of costs because the officers alleged he attacked them and stabbed one officer whereas resisting arrest.
Earlier this week, Lugo's attorneys stated the officers detained Lugo with out proof he had dedicated a criminal offense, and the prosecution agreed to drop the case.
Police Chief Invoice Scott stated Wednesday that he was upset by the dropping of costs towards a person he stated "violently assaulted" officers, leaving injured.
"These sorts of assaults are unacceptable and should not be tolerated by our felony justice system," Scott stated in a press release. "When they're, it sends a harmful message that emboldens criminals to make use of violence — and never simply towards cops."
Lugo's lawyer stated she has filed a criticism with the Division of Police Accountability on his behalf.
After Lugo's arrest, the San Francisco Police Division launched a press release saying two officers had been injured when attempting to detain Lugo, who grew to become combative and produced a razor blade.
The division stated Lugo had attacked the officers, stabbing an officer in his left hand and left knee and that the opposite officer had been injured in his hand in the course of the wrestle.
Lugo was booked into San Francisco County Jail on costs of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine and possession of housebreaking instruments.
The general public defender's workplace stated that when police first encountered Lugo, he was holding a silver object in his hand, which police thought was a vape pen.
"All events agree that when police pinned Mr. Lugo, the cap fell off, revealing that it was an X-acto Knife — a small pen-shaped instrument with a pointy edge usually utilized in crafts. The sharp edge triggered superficial cuts to at least one officer's pinkie and knee, however the officers' blows to Mr. Lugo's head despatched him to the hospital with bruises, lacerations, and a fractured cheekbone," the workplace stated.
Lugo was later charged with assault on an officer, exhibiting a lethal weapon to withstand arrest, and three counts of resisting arrest utilizing drive. He spent over 4 months in jail.
"We rigorously reviewed all of the proof on this case, together with statements, surveillance, the truth that cops weren't carrying physique worn cameras, inconsistencies in police officer statements, the truth that Mr. Lugo was behaving lawfully when stopped by police, and the images of the accidents of all events—which depicted extreme accidents to Mr. Lugo, whom police badly beat throughout this encounter—and it was clear that this was not a provable case," stated Rachel Marshall, spokeswoman for San Francisco District Legal professional's Workplace.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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