HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Cop Assaults Air Force Capt. for Not Knowing Neighbor, Says He Could Have Tased or Shot Him Instead

Views:1028
@ReasonVids

Capt. Nicolás Aquino attends the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, and plans to devote his life to military service. His family fled Paraguay to escape a brutal dictatorship before he was born, and they came to America because of the rights the U.S. Constitution offered.

"That's one of the many factors in terms of why I wanted to serve this country, so I could uphold those ideals, that I could fight, that I could give back to the community and make sure that my family can keep those freedoms," says Aquino.

Aquino says he works everyday towards protecting these rights. That, he says, makes his entanglement with law enforcement these past few months even more infuriating.

In December 2013, Aquino was at home when he noticed Sheriff's Deputy Ivan Rodriguez outside his property. Apparently, one of Aquino's neighbors didn't recognize him and called the Sheriff's Department to report a suspicious person. According to Aquino, Rodriguez didn't identify himself and didn't clarify why he was at Aquino's address. After some conversation, Aquino asked if he was being detained, and the officer said yes. The police report claims that Aquino asked this in a "confrontational tone."

"The officer, he appears to have been offended at the idea that a citizen would question his authority or would even ask any questions," says Aquino's lawyer, Steven Liner. "Everything that Nicolás was doing, to me is sort of like textbook 'OK, I'm going to be respectful, I'm going to answer questions, but I'm also going to insist that you answer questions for me, because I am within my rights on my property to ask these questions.'"

Even after Aquino provided his military ID and offered to get his utlity bills to show proof of address, Rodriguez remained unconvinced that Aquino was not a burglar and moved to physically detain him.

"He just grabbed my wrist without any warning, without provocation, put me in a choke hold," says Aquino. "I still have fluid buildup in the back of my right ear, a right head contusion, abrasions and contusions on the elbows, knees, and hip."

The officer then proceeded to put Aquino in handcuffs and search his wallet. He finally concluded that he did, in fact, live there.

"The officer did not apologize. He pulls me over to the side of the driveway and he does basic victim blaming, and he says it was my fault for not knowing my neighbors. He then states that he had wanted to tase me if he had a taser, and he would have shot and killed me if he had drawn his weapon, and he would have been fully justified in killing me," says Aquino.

After the incident, Aquino thought he could put the nightmare behind him. Two months later, however, he was notified that there was a warrant out for him for resisting arrest during the incident. Aquino was dumbfounded but decided to fight back.

"I was not aggressive or confrontational in any way," says Aquino. "Are we supposed to bend over and, excuse my French, just take it? Just because a person is on a power trip and feels that he can bully you into submission?"

Liner says no, citizens need to stand up for their rights. "This is an opportunity for all of us to talk about how it is that citizens have an absolute right to ask questions and that police officers should be respectful and civil and act lawfully, which means not using force unless it is really called for," he says.

Once word got out about the arrest, the public flocked to support Aquino. The DA seemed unconvinced at that point that a jury would side with Rodriguez, and he dropped the charges. This is a victory for Aquino, but the DA still appears to defend the officer's actions. The DA's office declined Reason's request for an interview.

Aquino plans to continue fighting and is filing a civil claim against Monterey County for damages.

About 7 minutes.

Produced by Tracy Oppenheimer, who also narrates.

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2014/05/22/nicolas-aquino-story for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel for notifications when new material goes live.

nicolas aquino
,
monterey (city/town/village)
,
police abuse
,
police corruption
,
law enforcement
,
reason tv
,
tracy oppenheimer
    Thumbnail for Cannes: The Digital Revolution is Changing Filmmaking2:35
    Cannes: The Digital Revolution is Changing Filmmaking
    ReasonVids
    879 views
    Thumbnail for Why Do Ships Carry Less In Winter? | Casual Navigation7:27
    Why Do Ships Carry Less In Winter? | Casual Navigation
    invidious
    458 views
    Thumbnail for No Mercy for the Weak0:42
    No Mercy for the Weak
    voatcatbox
    569 views
    Thumbnail for The Truth About Sumo Wrestling | Phannypackster15:35
    The Truth About Sumo Wrestling | Phannypackster
    invidious
    407 views
    Thumbnail for How Quiet are the World’s Quietest Rooms? | Cleo Abram0:53
    How Quiet are the World’s Quietest Rooms? | Cleo Abram
    invidious
    83 views
    Thumbnail for What's Next? 👀 | Red Bull1:00
    What's Next? 👀 | Red Bull
    invidious
    117 views
    Thumbnail for These new country tunes are actually sounding pretty good...1:58
    These new country tunes are actually sounding pretty good...
    bestofupgoat
    478 views
    Thumbnail for Freeze Dryer Giveaway! Make non-perishable, lightweight pie for the trail! | thruhikers0:48
    Freeze Dryer Giveaway! Make non-perishable, lightweight pie for the trail! | thruhikers
    invidious
    121 views
    Thumbnail for Trump Dominates First GOP Debate9:33
    Trump Dominates First GOP Debate
    AmericanRenaissance
    1477 views
    Thumbnail for Getting a Lost Lego Piece | brickstudios1:17
    Getting a Lost Lego Piece | brickstudios
    invidious
    170 views
    Thumbnail for Anyone Care About Economic Liberty Anymore? George Thomas on the 14th Amendment10:14
    Anyone Care About Economic Liberty Anymore? George Thomas on the 14th Amendment
    ReasonVids
    892 views
    Thumbnail for Ukrainian ROBOTIC SHARK Can Turn Any Russian Ship into a Submarine! | The Military Show14:03
    Ukrainian ROBOTIC SHARK Can Turn Any Russian Ship into a Submarine! | The Military Show
    invidious
    88 views
    Thumbnail for We Created the First Ever 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜-𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠 Call Center | Scammer Payback23:20
    We Created the First Ever 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜-𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠 Call Center | Scammer Payback
    invidious
    423 views
    Thumbnail for Spring rolls are superior #food #foodasmr #recipe #cooking | Louis Gantus0:51
    Spring rolls are superior #food #foodasmr #recipe #cooking | Louis Gantus
    invidious
    206 views
    Thumbnail for Every man's dream basement1:01
    Every man's dream basement
    bestofupgoat
    175 views
    Thumbnail for Lol0:57
    Lol
    AOUisgay
    521 views
    Thumbnail for Those Who Know The Least About Bitcoin Want to Ban it the Most: Reason-Rupe Poll April 20141:13
    Those Who Know The Least About Bitcoin Want to Ban it the Most: Reason-Rupe Poll April 2014
    ReasonVids
    964 views
    Thumbnail for Nobody needs a 30 round magazine for hunting. Noisy warning.0:24
    Nobody needs a 30 round magazine for hunting. Noisy warning.
    bestofsaidit
    895 views
    Thumbnail for PSL Live: Peshawar vs Quetta, 17th Match | PZ vs QG Live | Scores & Commentary | PZ BATTING1:33:51
    PSL Live: Peshawar vs Quetta, 17th Match | PZ vs QG Live | Scores & Commentary | PZ BATTING
    invidious
    153 views
    Thumbnail for Bolshevik commies took over Russha in early 1900s proceeded to genocide 10s of millions of Christians. Now they genocide goys all over the planet3:14
    Bolshevik commies took over Russha in early 1900s proceeded to genocide 10s of millions of Christians. Now they genocide goys all over the planet
    bestofupgoat
    525 views
    Thumbnail for 🔴 jogando O NOVO ROUND 6 no MINECRAFT - AO VIVO1:20:41
    🔴 jogando O NOVO ROUND 6 no MINECRAFT - AO VIVO
    invidious
    161 views
    Thumbnail for Pu$$ies New Children's Book for Adults!.7:29
    Pu$$ies New Children's Book for Adults!.
    bestofupgoat
    148 views
    Thumbnail for 1492 was HUGE. - It ended a 775 year push to reclaim Europe from Muslims, and the Jews that "Opened the Gates of Toledo" in multiple cities.0:19
    1492 was HUGE. - It ended a 775 year push to reclaim Europe from Muslims, and the Jews that "Opened the Gates of Toledo" in multiple cities.
    bestofupgoat
    471 views
    Thumbnail for 20 Years After 9-1110:44
    20 Years After 9-11
    AmericanRenaissance
    855 views
    Thumbnail for Docs Afraid to Prescribe Life-Saving Medical Pot, Even Though It Won't Get Patients High4:33
    Docs Afraid to Prescribe Life-Saving Medical Pot, Even Though It Won't Get Patients High
    ReasonVids
    970 views

points

Permalink
Reply
nicolas aquino
,
monterey (city/town/village)
,
police abuse
,
police corruption
,
law enforcement
,
reason tv
,
tracy oppenheimer
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle