WILLIAMS, AZ — A police lieutenant in an Arizona town is on administrative leave following an ABC15 Investigation.
Lieutenant John Romero was placed on administrative leave on February 24, pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Williams Police Chief James Gregory, who recently joined the department, confirmed on Wednesday that Romero was placed on administrative leave because of the arrest of Brian Lopez in October 2022. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is handling the investigation into Romero.
Questions were raised about the high-ranking lieutenant’s use of force during Lopez’s arrest in an ABC15 report last year.
Williams City Manager Tim Petit said the investigation was launched at the city’s request after additional information was inadvertently discovered by the new police chief during introduction meetings with his staff.
ABC15’s investigation focused on what was captured on police body camera video during Lopez’s arrest.
Lopez was arrested for allegedly stealing a can of beer from a local gas station.
Shortly after another officer placed Lopez in handcuffs, the body camera video shows Lt. Romero’s hand appearing, unannounced, on his back.
Romero takes Lopez to the ground while he’s in handcuffs, causing a major head injury.
According to the police report, Lt. Romero justified his actions by saying that Lopez was resisting arrest.
Former officers involved in the arrest and the family of the injured man disagreed.
Have a tip for the ABC15 Investigators? Email Investigator Jennifer Kovaleski at jennifer.kovaleski@abc15.com.
