Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced on Sunday that he is ordering Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation into a traffic stop in December that ended with the pepper spray of an army officer by two Windsor police officers.
“The Windsor incident is disturbing and angered me – and I am ordering Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation,” Northam wrote in a statement on Twitter.
“Our Commonwealth has done important work in police reform, but we must continue to work to ensure that Virginians are safe while interacting with the police, that enforcement of laws is fair and equitable and that people are held accountable,” continued he.
My statement about the meeting between Lieutenant Caron Nazario and two Windsor Police officers: pic.twitter.com/GcfL5YeIRm
– Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) April 11, 2021
Caron Nazario, a second lieutenant in the military, filed a lawsuit earlier this month alleging that the officers violated his constitutional rights during a traffic stop in the southeastern town of Windsor, about 74 miles west of Virginia Beach.
In body cameras shared online by The Associated Press, Nazario, who is Black and Latino, can be seen in his car parked at a gas station, dressed in uniform with his hands up as the two officers aim their guns at him.
The officers were videotaped ordering Nazario to get out of his vehicle, to which he replied, “I’m really scared to get out.”
“Yes, you should be, go away!” one of the agents can be heard responding.
According to The AP, Windsor police officer Daniel Crocker had previously radioed to the station, saying he was attempting to run over a vehicle with tinted windows that did not appear to have a license plate behind.
Another officer, Joe Gutierrez, responded to Crocker’s call and joined him.
Crocker said the situation was a “high-risk traffic stop” as he claimed the driver was “dodging the police”.
However, Nazario says he was not trying to escape from the officer while driving home from his station, but instead wanted to stop in a well-lit area “for the safety of the officer and out of respect for the officers.”
In the lawsuit, Nazario argued that once the officers arrived at the gas station, his rear license plate was clearly visible, but the officers still immediately drew their weapons and aimed at Nazario.
In the statement, Northam said he invited Nazario to meet soon, adding “we all need to continue the greater dialogue on reforms in our country.”
The Hill contacted the Windsor Police and Virginia State Police for comment.