Army officer’s assault suit against police can proceed to trial

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Army officer’s assault suit against police can proceed to trial
By Ben Finley, The Associated Press
Aug 10, 03:35 PM
FILE - A police officer uses a spray agent on 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario on Dec. 20, 2020, in Windsor, Va. (Windsor Police via AP)

NORFOLK, Va. — An Army lieutenant who was pepper-sprayed, struck and handcuffed during a traffic stop in Virginia can present his claims of false imprisonment and assault and battery to a jury, a federal judge has ruled.

But the summary judgment Tuesday said federal immunity laws shield the two officers involved from facing Caron Nazario’s claims that they violated the Black and Hispanic soldier’s constitutional protections against excessive force and unreasonable seizure, as well as his right to free speech by allegedly threatening him with arrest if he complained about their behavior.

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