Police break driver's window during confrontation
Police in New Mexico resorted to destruction of property when a couple refused to heed instructions.
A confrontation between two civilians and traffic officers in New Mexico ended with a broken car window and a double arrest.
New Mexico State Police officers were caught on video breaking the window of a car driven by Phillip Page while his companion Angela Fisher-Herrera looked on and urged the officers not to hurt Phillip.
Phillip is seen trying to reason with the police officers, saying that they have not told him what the issue is or even asked to see his driver's license. Angela can be heard saying that the police officers claim the two passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
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Just as the two officers break the window and remove the glass from the vehicle, they also pull Phillip's arm. Phillip can be heard saying, "calm down". The confrontation escalates quickly as a third police officer appears, the car door is opened, someone unfastens Phillip's seatbelt, and he is yanked out of the car.
Angela is ordered to "step out of the vehicle" by one of the officers, at which point the video recording stops. Metro reports that Phillip was arrested on charges of "resisting arrest, evading or obstructing an officer and a seatbelt violation".
Chief Pete Kassetas of the New Mexico State Police stated that Phillip had not been removed from the car because he was not wearing a seatbelt, but because he was not complying.
The police chief stated that he stands by his officer's action, aggressive and unnecessary though they may seem: "At some point after a certain amount of time of noncompliance, something has to happen".