ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – One by one, Albuquerque police officers have been turning in their badges rather than talking to investigators about an alleged public corruption scheme involving DWI cases. Today, a man who claims he was wrongfully arrested and targeted in the alleged scheme, has filed a civil lawsuit against the city, APD, and its police chief.
“Racketeering, extortion, and civil rights violations” are some of the damning claims made in the lawsuit filed by the ACLU against nine Albuquerque police officers, eight of whom have since left the force, the City of Albuquerque, Chief Harold Medina, defense attorney Thomas Clear III, and his paralegal, Ricardo “Rick” Mendez.
“This is essentially a mob-like practice that’s being perpetrated by our officers,” said Attorney Taylor Smith. Smith said he’s working with the ACLU to seek justice for Carlos Smith, a man whose DWI case KRQE Investigates reported on earlier this year when Smith brought forward evidence revealing red flags with how former Albuquerque Police DWI officer Joshua Montaño, handled his arrest.