Incidents

In the summer of 2020, Layton, along with Officers Nicholas Caesar and Cleophas Williams, was named in an Internal Affairs complaint (I.A.D. 2020-0038) alleging abuse of chemical weapons and the use of excessive force on two individuals, one a journalist, during a police attack on a protest in early June.

At a protest during the George Floyd Uprising of 2020, Fredericksburg Police used tear gas two minutes after declaring the event an unlawful assembly.

Although the police themselves in an internal investigation ruled their actions were justified, an independent review by the Police Executive Research Forum determined the officers were too quick and too aggressive in deploying gas on the crowd.

Body camera footage revealed during the investigation also showed FPD officers patrolling the streets and engaging in "crowd control" tactics against protesters while carrying large patrol rifles, which is prohibited by department policy.

Several individuals sued the City of Fredericksburg for FPD's actions.

"On May 27, 2020, an individual later identified as having a name with the initials J.R. (hereinafter “JR”) was arrested by Fairfax County Police Department (hereinafter “FCPD”) officers in the parking lot of the Office Depot located at 2901 Gallows Road.

On June 22, 2020, JR contacted the Office of the Independent Police Auditor to complain about the three officers’ use of force (hereinafter “UOF”) against her during the arrest. She also alleged other misconduct by the officers which was considered by the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel.

JR alleged that prior to and during the arrest, she was forcibly yanked out of her car, dragged across the concrete parking lot, lifted from the ground by her hair, and punched in her stomach."

Officers Chad Mason and Christopher Russo of the Prince William County Police Department were named in a lawsuit alleging they assaulted and bodyslammed a man with a broken pelvis.

A civil rights complaint was filed against the City of Lynchburg, LPD Officer Robbin Miller, LPD Officer Seth Reed, and ex-LPD Officer Zachary Miller (whom the lawsuit states was/is employed by Amherst County Sheriff's Office as a deputy, but whom did not appear in rosters requested as of one month later) by Shanta Lynette Brown and Aquasha Sandidge on the 18th of September, 2023 for an incident that occurred on April 28, 2020 at 1503 Kemper Street. The complaint alleges excessive force, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.

Alvin Lamont Baum II was shot and killed by Virginia Beach Police Department officers.

Larry Anthony Booker filed a court complaint against Lynchburg Police for assault. Luke Schartiger, Jonathan Bragg, and Nathan R. Godsie were named as the assailants.

On March 12, 2020, an Internal Affairs investigation (Case # 201901817) overseen by Sergeant Shaw was launched to investigate a complaint of "assault, illegal search, and harassment" by Mawyer. On April 6, 2020, the Waynesboro, VA Police completed their investigation of themselves and deemed the complaint against them unfounded.

Officer Jeffrey Jaeger assaulted Andre Henderson, a Black man, slamming him into a wooden fence. He was later charged with assault and battery, convicted, and fired from the Charlottesville Police Department.

"On January 28, 2020, shortly before 10:00 p.m., detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department (hereinafter “FCPD”) Organized Crime and Investigations Bureau (hereinafter “OCIB”) went to a residence on Lee Landing Drive in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County to conduct a search of the residence pursuant to a search warrant. The detectives also planned to arrest an individual residing at the home (hereinafter “DV”) pursuant to warrants authorizing his arrest. Members of the FCPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (hereinafter “SWAT”) were there to assist the OCIB detectives.

Earlier that evening, at approximately 9:30 p.m., there was a briefing to discuss the execution of the search warrant attended by members of both OCIB and SWAT. Officers were informed that, in addition to the search warrant, there were outstanding arrest warrants for DV for possession with intent to distribute marijuana1 and failing to appear in criminal court.

The lead detective also provided information that DV was affiliated with a street gang and that he had access to weapons. Finally, the presence of a second-floor camera had also been noted during pre-search warrant surveillance of the residence, causing concern that DV would know in advance that the officers were getting ready to execute the warrants.

Based on this information and the nature of the search warrant itself, SWAT supervisors approved dispensing with the 1 Va. Code § 18.2-248.1 2 Va. Code § 19.2-128. 3 See, for example, Slain FBI agents gunned down through closed-door: report (nypost.com). usual requirements of first knocking, announcing, and then waiting a reasonable amount of time4 before entering the search location.

SWAT officers were to make the initial entry into the home and to secure the location prior to the OCIB detectives conducting the search authorized by the search warrant. Because the front door to the residence was locked, one SWAT officer used a ramming device to breach the door.

The first three SWAT officers to enter were Master Police Officer #1 (hereinafter “MPO#1”), Police Officer First Class #1 (hereinafter “PFC#1”), and Sergeant #1 (hereinafter “SGT#1”), each of whom shouted, “Police, search warrant!” as they crossed the threshold.

After MPO#1 entered the residence, the entrance to the kitchen was to his left. In the kitchen, MPO#1 saw DV approaching him with what appeared to be a rifle7 pointed at him. MPO#1 raised his handgun from the “ready-gun” position8 and fired three times at DV.

One round struck DV in the leg, who then fell to the ground and was handcuffed by MPO#1. Master Police Officer #2 (hereinafter “MPO#2”) quickly rendered medical aid to DV before medics from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (hereinafter “FCFRD”)—who had been pre-staged very near the search location—arrived shortly thereafter.

The FCFRD transported DV to Fairfax Hospital, where he was treated and released to the custody of the FCPD. During the transport to the hospital, Police Officer First Class #2 (hereinafter “PFC#2”) accompanied DV and the FCFRD personnel. PFC#2 documented DV stating, unprovoked, “I didn’t mean to point the gun at you,” while he was being transported. Following DV’s treatment and release from the hospital, Police Officer First Class #3 (hereinafter “PFC#3”) transported him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (hereinafter “ADC”), arriving at approximately 2:20 a.m. on January 29, 2020."

NOTE: The identity of the officer referred to as"MPO#1 in the report above has been revealed to in fact be Officer Eric W. Crago, a Master Police Officer in FCPD's Special Operations Division)

Crago was also the officer to shoot in this incident, according to a news release by PCPD.) and the Independent Police Auditor's Report describing MPO#1's actions during the shooting.

While off-duty, Norfolk Police officer Edmund Hoyt shot and killed Kelvin White, who allegedly had mental health problems, in 2020. Hoyt was tried for voluntary manslaughter in a case that ended in a mistrial, then tried again and found not guilty in 2022.

Eric C. Coleman, a mentally disabled man, was mistakenly arrested and kept in jail for 10 days.

Two Richmond County officers & a Virginia State trooper were supposed to be executing an arrest warrant on Derrick A. Elseth Jr., 24, when they shot and killed him.

Officers Albin Pearson and Dwight Pitterson shot and killed Henry "Hank" Berry III in December 2019. Pearson was convicted of manslaughter.

Police Narrative (Not Verified):

"[After being bit by a police dog]: ...PFC#1 hit TG once with a closed fist to his head. At this point, TG rolled to his stomach with his hands underneath his stomach.

PFC#1 then used hand strikes to TG’s back. PFC#1 was joined by PFC#2... When TG was finally handcuffed, PFC#1 immediately took control of Lobo [dog] and called for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (hereinafter “FCFRD”) to respond and provide medical care to TG for the dog bite.

[W]hile being treated TG suffered a medical emergency (cardiac arrest) deemed life-threatening by the FCFRD. The handcuffs were removed so that life-saving treatment could be administered. TG was then transported to Reston Hospital where he received additional medical care.

In May of 2020, TG was placed in a nursing home facility able to breathe on his own, but he remained non-verbal. "

In a court complaint, a man claims he was SWATTed and threatened by Officers Kay and Oyola, then arrested without cause.

A use of force complaint was filed against a police officer for an incident on October 25, 2019. The complaint says the victim claimed "PFC#1 (Police Officer First Class #1) put his forearm across his throat and applied pressure while securing the seatbelt. He also indicated that he was unable to breathe for approximately two seconds while this occurred. YW said that he did not understand why PFC#1

did this, but that he appeared angry during the encounter."

An officer driving a police cruiser loses control and crashes, killing a pedestrian, 40-year-old Carlos Romeo Montoya.

Officer Jose Martinez of the Roanoke City Police Department shot and killed Chase Andrew Austin.

While Detective Robert B. Stewart had a civilian riding along in his car, he and Officer Branden A. Kidder both shot at Jerome Uzzle, whom they had been attempting to arrest earlier that day. Uzzle died later of his injuries, with the fatal bullets deemed to have come from Kidder's gun.