Two Arizona police officers have had charges filed against them for two separate incidents that took place within the past year.
Mesa Police officer Nathan Chisler has been charged with aggravated assault related to the December 6, 2019 shooting of an unarmed man at Ojos-Locos Sports Cantina in Mesa. A 45 year-old man was a part of a group of inebriated people causing a disturbance at a restaurant when police arrived. The man was instructed to place his hands behind his back at one point and started to attack the officers, resulting in a taser strike and an attempted takedown with strikes. After a second altercation, officer Chisler aimed and fired his weapon at the suspect, who was hit in the hip with non-life threatening injuries. The man was unarmed, making the use of the firearm unwarranted use of force and the officer has now been charged with aggravated assault and it has been recommended that he be terminated.
Officer Sean Pena is accused of engaging in sexual acts with two different victims while the victims were either in custody or the subject of an investigation. One of the charges specifically indicates that the act took place without the victim's consent. The second incident says that the two engaged in sexual contact after the suspect was released from custody. Pena faces 1 charge of sexual assault and 2 charges for unlawful sexual conduct.
This comes hot on the heels of the Tempe police chief urging all officers in the state to ensure their actions emphasize dignity and respect for those they interact with. Not a promising start!
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Mesa Police officer Nathan Chisler has been charged with aggravated assault related to the December 6, 2019 shooting of an unarmed man at Ojos-Locos Sports Cantina in Mesa. A 45 year-old man was a part of a group of inebriated people causing a disturbance at a restaurant when police arrived. The man was instructed to place his hands behind his back at one point and started to attack the officers, resulting in a taser strike and an attempted takedown with strikes. After a second altercation, officer Chisler aimed and fired his weapon at the suspect, who was hit in the hip with non-life threatening injuries. The man was unarmed, making the use of the firearm unwarranted use of force and the officer has now been charged with aggravated assault and it has been recommended that he be terminated.
Officer Sean Pena is accused of engaging in sexual acts with two different victims while the victims were either in custody or the subject of an investigation. One of the charges specifically indicates that the act took place without the victim's consent. The second incident says that the two engaged in sexual contact after the suspect was released from custody. Pena faces 1 charge of sexual assault and 2 charges for unlawful sexual conduct.
This comes hot on the heels of the Tempe police chief urging all officers in the state to ensure their actions emphasize dignity and respect for those they interact with. Not a promising start!
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