Charges against a former Las Cruces, New Mexico, police officer accused of killing a man in custody have been increased to second-degree murder from involuntary manslaughter, according to a news release from New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas.
Balderas also announced the attorney general's office has taken over the prosecution of the former officer, Christopher Smelser, at the request of the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, the release stated.Las Cruces police officer fired and charged after fatally choking a man during an arrest, police sayCNN attempts to contact Smelser's lawyer have gone unanswered.
Police body camera footage shows a struggle involving Valenzuela, who died after Smelser was heard saying,"I'm going to f**king choke you out, bro."Officers pulled over Valenzuela for a traffic stop and learned he had a warrant for a parole violation, according to a news release from the Doña Ana County District Attorney's Office.
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