Civil Liberties

Brickbat: Officer Friendly

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Antonio Martinez

Antonio Martinez was just walking between his home and the bakery his family owns in Vista, California, when a San Diego sheriff's deputy decided to stop him and ask him about a domestic violence incident. A neighbor tried to explain that Martinez has Down syndrome and wasn't doing anything wrong, but the deputy then pepper sprayed and struck Martinez with a baton. Deputies took him into custody for possible obstruction of justice. But they released him without filing charges.