An ex-officer with the Albuquerque Police Department was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors. This was for unlawfully apprehending a man with disabilities. The man had been having a hard time finishing a purchase with cash at a Target store.
Last year, Kenneth Skeens, the former officer, was terminated in relation to the incident.
“Rather than acting as a professional public servant and a guardian of vulnerable members of this community, Mr. Skeens engaged in abusive and unlawful behavior that undermined public safety and violated his oath as a peace officer in the state of New Mexico,” the Attorney General stated.
Skeens had been charged with false imprisonment and perjury, which are both fourth-degree felonies, and filing a police report and battery, which are considered misdemeanors.
Two other police officers in Albuquerque, Marcos Flores and Gregory Radigan, were also a part of the incident at the store.
Skeen’s body cam depicted him at the Target store. He had walked up to a 53-year-old man who was using cash. The money was out on the counter as he attempted to purchase a bicycle in the self-checkout lane. The man seemed to be confused.
The recording depicts Skeens and Radigan pulling the man by his arms and out of the store.
When they got outside, the man who was hard to understand, would not give his name. He retrieved his phone and contacted 911 to complain about “security.” Eventually, he disclosed to the officers that he didn’t know they were police officers.
“That’s your fault,” Skeens stated.
Authorities had first said that Skeens, the first officer, and the other police officers didn’t have a legal reason for apprehending the man. Additionally, police said that officers used force during the unlawful apprehension.
The man was given a criminal summons for charges of concealing identity, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. Those charges were dropped months afterwards when the man was found not to be competent to stand trial.
At some point, Skeens was terminated from his job.
“We took immediate action when we learned about the allegations of unacceptable behavior by this individual… Our officers work hard every day to earn the trust of the people they serve…,” stated the Albuquerque Police Chief.
Criminal documents note that Skeens was charged with perjury because he made a false statement under oath. It also revealed that he submitted a report charging another person with a crime but was aware that the report was not true. He has pleaded not guilty.
Nine days following the occurrence at Target, Skeens, Flores, and another officer, Dustin Ketchum, fatally shot Keyshawn Thomas at a Valero gas station after they stated that he had retrieved a firearm.
The police department determined that all three officers did not de-escalate the matter as they disputed with Thomas who was intoxicated. Detectives also determined that Skeens violated department guidelines when he shot Thomas.
Thomas’s relatives filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the shooting and killing.
