Name: La Mesa reveals police officer involved in controversial arrest was fired
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La Mesa reveals police officer involved in controversial arrest was fired

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Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A former La Mesa police officer who was videotaped grabbing and shoving a Black man in a May encounter that sparked protests was fired from the department — and an appeals board upheld the termination, the city announced on Wednesday. Before the announcement, officials had said only that Matthew Dages was by the city. He was fired Aug. 7, following an into the arrest of Amaurie Johnson, the city said in a statement. Dages appealed a week later, and on Wednesday the city’s personnel appeals board upheld the termination by then-police Chief Walt Vasquez, who retired in late August. Dages invoked his right to request the appeals hearing be closed to the public, the city said. The board’s decision is final. Attempts to reach Dages were unsuccessful.Advertisement“This is a small step forward in an ongoing process,” Johnson said Thursday in a text message. In the aftermath of the May 27 arrest, Johnson to be filed against Dages. He also , alleging Dages discriminated against him based on race, used excessive force and wrongly arrested him.Johnson, of San Diego, Dages approached him while he was standing in front of an apartment complex near the Grossmont Transit Center and that Dages accused him of smoking marijuana — which Johnson denied. Johnson was waiting for friends. When they arrived, Johnson tried to walk away. That’s when the situation escalated. Dages grabbed Johnson by his jersey and repeatedly pushed him down onto a concrete bench, according to video Johnson’s friends recorded and Johnson’s lawsuit. In the video clip, Dages says Johnson had smacked his hand — which Johnson denied. Backup officers arrived to help handcuff Johnson, who was taken to the police station and issued a citation, accused of assault on a police officer, then released. The video, which captured about six minutes of the arrest, was circulated online and, mixed with raw emotions in the days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, touched off passionate calls for police reform and social justice.A bit more than week later, the Police Department announced it charges against Johnson. Still, anger and frustration over Johnson’s arrest and Floyd’s death resulted in a tumultuous summer in La Mesa — where a protest May 30 turned riotous and lasted into the next day as two banks were burned to the ground and looters targeted stores in the heart of the city. Updates Sign up to get Breaking News email alerts Get alerts on severe weather, road closures and other major breaking news. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Show Comments Load More Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement A former La Mesa police officer who was videotaped grabbing and shoving a Black man in a May encounter that sparked protests was fired from the department — and an appeals board upheld the termination, the city announced on Wednesday. Before the announcement, officials had said only that Matthew Dages was by the city. He was fired Aug. 7, following an into the arrest of Amaurie Johnson, the city said in a statement. Dages appealed a week later, and on Wednesday the city’s personnel appeals board upheld the...

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The San Diego Union-Tribune, the region's leading news source since 1868. Follow our journalists, too: http://j.mp/UTstaff

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La Mesa reveals police officer involved in controversial arrest was fired

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