Two Alaskan law enforcement officers faced accusations of assault for excessively apprehending an individual who was not their intended target.
Sgt. Joseph Miller and companion dog handler Jason Woodruff have faced charges of fourth-degree assault in connection to an incident on May 24, as announced by Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, James Cockrell, during a press conference last Thursday.
Cockrell, who has served with the department for 33 years, stated he had never witnessed such conduct from an Alaska State Trooper. The incidents resulted in severe injuries requiring hospitalization for the individual inside the vehicle.
An appointment for the accused officers is scheduled for September 10.
The officers allegedly destroyed the rear window of a man's vehicle, pepper-sprayed him, implemented a taser, and ordered their police dog to mercilessly bite him during an attempted arrest, according to authorities. It was only after hospitalization that they discovered they had apprehended the relative of the man they intended to capture, both sharing the same last name.
The duo troopers initially responded to a vehicle parked improperly on a public right-of-way in Soldotna, Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. The vehicle was registered to an individual with an active misdemeanor warrant, according to Cockrell.
Miller and Woodruff were placed on leave following the incident, with the dog no longer being in service, according to Cockrell. CNN has not managed to establish if either officer has secured legal representation.
The troopers allegedly attempted to communicate with an individual hiding in the rear of the vehicle and commanded him to leave the automobile. However, he denied having an active warrant and refused to vacate the vehicle, the press release stated.
Miller, 49, subsequently damaged the rear window of the vehicle and spray-peppered it within, according to the press release. Cockrell considered it unacceptable that they broke the window without more questions being asked beforehand.
As the man attempted to exit the vehicle, officers attempted to handcuff him, with Miller stepping on the man's head, pressing it into the ground littered with broken glass, causing bleeding. Miller also employed the taser multiple times, as per the press release.
Even when the man appeared to be complying with the officers' directions, Woodruff, 42, released his dog and persisted in instructing the K9 to bite the man.
Eventually, the man was subdued, provided medical aid, and taken to a hospital. It was then that the officers discovered their mistake — the man was not the wanted individual.
According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, the troopers believed they had encountered an individual with an outstanding warrant. However, the man pepper-sprayed and attacked by the dog turned out to be his relative.
The man sustained injuries, requiring surgery to mend muscle lacerations afterwards, The Associated Press reported. All charges against the wrongly imprisoned man were subsequently dropped, according to the charges against the two officers.
Allegedly leaving the man "shuddering" during his review of the video footage, Cockrell stated he would not release the entire body camera footage until the investigation was completed.
Miller and Woodruff were placed on leave following the incident, with the dog no longer being in service, according to Cockrell.
“I want to make it clear, the actions of these two individuals are unacceptable to me and not in line with our training and policy, and I am confident that Alaskans we serve do not approve of such behavior,” said Cockrell in the press release.
Despite the charges against them, we as a community should hope for a fair outcome for Sgt. Joseph Miller and Jason Woodruff during their court appearance on September 10. The altercation between the officers and the individual in Soldotna has raised serious concerns, and we hope for improvements in their future interactions with the public.
