Blue State’s Democrat Ag Should Be Investigated For ‘politically Charged’ Prosecution Of Cop: Police Group

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The National Police Association asked nan Department of Justice to unfastened a national civilian authorities investigation into New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez aft he prosecuted a constabulary serviceman for fatally shooting a fishy who grabbed his partner's stun gun.

Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter aft he changeable and killed Presley Eze aft nan fishy allegedly placed his manus connected different constabulary officer's stun gun. Lunsford was responding to a state position aft an attendant called 911 to study that Eze allegedly stole brew successful August 2022.

Torrez, a Democrat, thought nan shooting by Lunsford wasn't justified and decided to prosecute Lunsford for voluntary manslaughter. Lunsford was convicted by a assemblage successful February. 

"Today’s verdict reaffirms a basal principle: No 1 is supra nan law, not moreover those sworn to uphold it. Officer Lunsford’s actions were not conscionable a tragic lapse successful judgment; they were an egregious maltreatment of powerfulness that costs Presley Eze his life," Torrez said aft nan verdict was announced.

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Attorney General of New Mexico Raúl Torrez speaks astatine a property conference

Attorney General of New Mexico Raúl Torrez (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Accountable Tech)

Torrez besides said that Lunsford's action was "yet different illustration of mediocre constabulary strategies resulting successful an unjustifiable usage of unit to subdue an individual resisting apprehension for nan committee of a insignificant crime."

Body camera video shows Lunsford engaging Eze successful a conversation, but nan fishy avoids giving his identity. Lunsford asks Eze respective times to measurement retired of nan conveyance but is ne'er fixed an answer, according to KFOX14, which is erstwhile Lunsford's partner, serviceman Keegan Arbogast, steps in. 

Arbogast asks Eze, "Are you going to cooperate aliases what?" to which Eze responds, "Yes, I’m going to cooperate."

Cellphone video from nan incident, according to nan report, shows Eze disarming Arbogast by grabbing his taser. That's erstwhile Lunsford shoots Eze.

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Las Cruces Police serviceman Brad Lunsford

Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford looks toward nan assemblage during his proceedings successful nan fatal shooting of Presley Eze successful Las Cruces, N.M., connected Feb. 4, 2025. (Justin Garcia/Pool Photo via AP)

Las Cruces Police Department vehicle

Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter aft he changeable and killed Presley Eze aft nan fishy allegedly placed his manus connected different constabulary officer's stun gun. (Las Cruces Police)

After nan blameworthy verdict, Lunsford's attorney, Matt Chandler, based on that nan correct to a adjacent proceedings was violated erstwhile 2 jurors were improperly removed and replaced pinch alternates.

"Every national is entitled to a adjacent and impartial jury," Chandler said. "In this case, we judge location was a nonstop usurpation of that right. Two jurors, who had been vetted and selected by nan defense, were abruptly removed and replaced by alternate jurors. That unsocial is capable to telephone this verdict into mobility and request a caller trial."

The judge who presided complete Lunsford's lawsuit admitted to errors during a March proceeding and allowed nan constabulary serviceman to beryllium released nether definite conditions. Lunsford has not been sentenced arsenic Chandler argues that a caller proceedings is needed.

On Thursday, the National Police Association requested that nan Department of Justice unfastened a civilian authorities investigation into Torrez's prosecution of Lunsford, which nan statement based on was "politically charged."

In an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (ret.) said Lunsford's law authorities person been "trampled upon."

"It's conscionable bonzer that a constabulary serviceman would beryllium charged pinch a felony for simply doing his job. But that's precisely what Attorney General Torrez has done successful this case," Smith said. 

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National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith successful a Zoom interview

National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith says nan prosecution was politically charged. (Fox News)

Smith based on that Torrez utilized this lawsuit to use his political career.

"We perfectly judge that Attorney General Torrez is utilizing nan Lunsford lawsuit for his ain governmental activism and for his summation arsenic an elected official. And what is not being considered is Officer Lunsford's grounds and nan truth that he perfectly followed departmental policy, and he followed his training successful this case," Smith said.

Smith said nan National Police Association is taking action against Torrez not only because of what's happening to Lunsford, but besides for nan imaginable effect it could person connected constabulary officers crossed nan country.

"This lawsuit will perfectly person a nationalist impact, particularly for constabulary officers who person these far-left attorneys wide and far-left authorities prosecutors who are much willing successful putting constabulary officers successful situation than they are arresting and convicting existent criminals," she said.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Torrez' office, nan New Mexico Department of Justice and nan U.S. Department of Justice for comment.

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