ARIZONA — Four Phoenix Police officers are under investigation for allegedly forcing a man to eat marijuana during a traffic stop.
Police Chief Joseph Yahner issued the following statement:
The Phoenix Police Department was recently made aware of an incident involving alleged misconduct by several of our officers. The incident is currently under both criminal and internal investigation. The allegations against these officers are disturbing and upsetting.
The allegations were brought to our attention by a 19 year old male who lives in Phoenix. He reported that several officers stopped him for a traffic violation around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13 near 4500 West McDowell Road. The officers are reported to have found marijuana in his vehicle during the stop. Upon the discovery, the officers demanded he eat the marijuana to avoid being taken to jail. The resident reported that he ate the marijuana, was issued traffic tickets and then released from the scene.
The Phoenix Police Department has a strong history of holding officers accountable for their actions, and this includes seeking criminal charges whenever appropriate. Two officers have been identified as possible suspects in the criminal investigation. As the investigations proceed, I will continue to share information as allowed by law.
As your Police Chief, I want you to know how appalled I was when I was informed about these allegations. The conduct alleged by our resident is contrary to everything we stand for as community servants. I have directed our criminal and internal investigators to make their inquiries thorough and swift. Once the facts are determined, I will take quick and appropriate action to ensure those involved are held accountable for their actions.
[H/T: Abc15.com]
