Lawsuit: Albuquerque Deputy Tortured Latino Man by Forcing him to Kneel on Sizzling Hot asphalt

From [HERE] A Latino man filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was the victim of excessive police brutality during a scorching hot summer day. Jonathon Griego claims he was detained by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Starr at a convenience store near the intersection of La Vega and Bridge on June 20, 2013—a day with high temperatures reaching 96 degrees.

Starr demanded that Griego kneel and sit on the asphalt, where he was forced to "literally cook" after a needle was found in his pocket, court papers said. In court documents filed in response to the lawsuit, Jonlyn Martinez, an attorney representing the county, denied Griego's allegations. Martinez also asked that a judge dismiss the suit. 

According to the lawsuit, Starr ignored Griego's complaints that the heat was burning through his pants and undergarments. Shannon Kennedy, Griego's lawyer, said a medical report concluded Griego suffered second-degree burns on his knees. "The photos are just awful," Kennedy said. He was forced to kneel on asphalt for nearly 25 minutes.  The asphalt was so hot, it burned through his jeans.

Griego claims he told the BCSO deputy that his “skin was cooking,” but the deputy ingored the complaints.  At one point Griego was permitted to sit on his buttocks, but the hot asphalt burned through his pants, undergarments, and skin.