Video Of Deputies Investigated By DA
LEADVILLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Thousands of people have viewed cell phone video that some believe shows police misconduct. The Lake County sheriff is defending his deputies and the way they handled the situation as it was captured on video.
The 10-minute video posted on YouTube shows two deputies in a home in Leadville handcuffing two people about 8 p.m. on Feb. 24.
Police were called to the home after reports of a possibly intoxicated male pushing around a female. When deputies arrived they knocked on the door and could hear voices inside but no one would open the door.
Deputies forced their way inside and secured everyone in the mobile home.
Lake County Sheriff Rodney Fenske told CBS4's Matt Kroschel by phone Tuesday that he has reviewed the video and stands by the actions his deputies took that night. He says they have been called to the house several times.
Two people, Jose Serrano, 39, and Maria Del Carmen, 40, were cited for harassment and obstruction.
District Attorney Bruce Brown told CBS4 his office opened the investigation after the video was posted online. The DA said the investigation does not indicate whether they believe the officers did anything wrong, but is common when use of force questions are raised.
Fenske says the deputies in the video remain on the job and that he does not have any plans to discipline them for their actions at this time.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office has not received any complaints regarding the incident.
CBS4 was contacted by the woman who allegedly took the video and posted the encounter on YouTube. She says the "Leadville police attacked my family, and no one is doing anything about it."
Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.
