Former Arizona tribal police officer indicted for using excessive force, falsifying records

A former San Carlos Apache police officer was indicted Wednesday for allegedly using excessive force against a handcuffed arrestee and falsifying another officer’s report, authorities said.

Jacob Christopher Slawson, 29, is facing charges of deprivation of right under color of law and falsification of records, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors said that Slawson punched a handcuffed arrestee while he was in the back of a police car, knocking him out. The former officer then proceeded to drag the man out of the vehicle, causing his head to hit his head on the concrete and split it open.

When Slawson learned that he was being investigated for excessive force, he allegedly added false and misleading information to a fellow detective’s report in order to obstruct the investigation.

If convicted of both charges, Slawson faces up to 30 years in prison.

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