FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - A former northwestern New Mexico police officer shown on a lapel video roughing up an 11-year-old middle school girl a year ago has been charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery.
The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday announced the charges against 36-year-old Zachary Christensen, who resigned from the Farmington Police Department about a month after the Aug. 27 encounter at Mesa View Middle School.
The lapel video shows Christensen throwing the 6th-grade student on the ground after accusing her of talking more pints of milk than allowed from the cafeteria. The video also shows school employees pleading with Christensen not to use excessive force. The student had a mild concussion, along with some bruises and scrapes
Steve Murphy, Christensen’s attorney, told The Daily Times in Farmington that State Police conducted a thorough investigation within two weeks of the incident and no criminal charges were filed. Murphy said the attorney general’s office was trying to grandstand and he is looking forward to a trial in this matter.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said he would hold anyone accountable who harmed a child.
Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe has apologized for how the student was treated by Christensen.
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