ENGLEWOOD, CO - On Tuesday, November 4, Englewood's chief of police called an officer's actions that allegedly involved him putting a man in a chokehold, a "stain on the profession."
The incident involved a traffic stop on October 8 and the officer, 30-year-old Ryan Vasina, has been terminated from the department after dash camera and body camera footage of the altercation went viral, 9News reported. The footage, according to prosecutors and police, shows Vasina yelling at and swearing at a 20-year-old man, shooting him with a Taser, pulling him from the car, and wrapping his arm around the man's neck for an estimated 12 seconds.
When asked about his reaction after seeing the video, Englewood Police Chief David Jackson paused before answering. "I can tell you what my professional response was," he said. "I felt that some of the language violated our values. I felt that the Taser violated our policy. And I felt like the neck encirclement violated the law. And that's why I sent it off to a third-party to investigate," he added.
"I've been a police officer for a long time. I certainly know all of the criticism of police. And ... I was very disappointed." After learning of a complaint against Vasina and watching the footage, Jackson asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to take over the case. It later was turned over to Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden.
Vasina joined the Englewood Police Department (EPD) in late 2024. He faces a felony charge of second degree assault and two misdemeanors — third degree assault and official misconduct. The second degree assault charge alleges that Vasina attempted to strangle the man, while the third degree assault charge alleges that he used his Taser on the man.
Prior to joining Englewood Police, Vasina worked for several years as a trooper for the Colorado State Patrol. The man Vasina stopped is a Venezuelan national and speaks Spanish. Jackson said a language barrier doesn't excuse Vasina's actions. "I think it's important to note that in this case, a Spanish-speaking officer was en route to the scene," Jackson said.
"We also have interpretation services available to officers at all times. I think it's important to note that there is not a lack of services available," he added. "This was a lack of compliance on the part of the officer." Jackson said the department offers interpretation services to officers. He said in this situation, there was a Spanish-speaking officer on the way to the scene.
"I just can't help but think that if we would have just taken our time, been a little bit more deliberate, been a little bit more thoughtful, waited for backup. I think that ... the incident would have been handled in a much better way," he said.
Colorado law prohibits peace officers from using chokeholds. All chokeholds are prohibited under EPD's Use of Force policy unless deadly force is authorized, the DA said.
Vasina's report on the case did not note any use of a chokehold, according to Denver7. Vasina turned himself in to Denver Sheriff Department deputies on Monday, November 3. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond. His first court date has not been scheduled. Padden said a conviction of the felony assault charge carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison.
The incident involved a traffic stop on October 8 and the officer, 30-year-old Ryan Vasina, has been terminated from the department after dash camera and body camera footage of the altercation went viral, 9News reported. The footage, according to prosecutors and police, shows Vasina yelling at and swearing at a 20-year-old man, shooting him with a Taser, pulling him from the car, and wrapping his arm around the man's neck for an estimated 12 seconds.
When asked about his reaction after seeing the video, Englewood Police Chief David Jackson paused before answering. "I can tell you what my professional response was," he said. "I felt that some of the language violated our values. I felt that the Taser violated our policy. And I felt like the neck encirclement violated the law. And that's why I sent it off to a third-party to investigate," he added.
"I've been a police officer for a long time. I certainly know all of the criticism of police. And ... I was very disappointed." After learning of a complaint against Vasina and watching the footage, Jackson asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to take over the case. It later was turned over to Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden.
Vasina joined the Englewood Police Department (EPD) in late 2024. He faces a felony charge of second degree assault and two misdemeanors — third degree assault and official misconduct. The second degree assault charge alleges that Vasina attempted to strangle the man, while the third degree assault charge alleges that he used his Taser on the man.
Prior to joining Englewood Police, Vasina worked for several years as a trooper for the Colorado State Patrol. The man Vasina stopped is a Venezuelan national and speaks Spanish. Jackson said a language barrier doesn't excuse Vasina's actions. "I think it's important to note that in this case, a Spanish-speaking officer was en route to the scene," Jackson said.
"We also have interpretation services available to officers at all times. I think it's important to note that there is not a lack of services available," he added. "This was a lack of compliance on the part of the officer." Jackson said the department offers interpretation services to officers. He said in this situation, there was a Spanish-speaking officer on the way to the scene.
"I just can't help but think that if we would have just taken our time, been a little bit more deliberate, been a little bit more thoughtful, waited for backup. I think that ... the incident would have been handled in a much better way," he said.
Colorado law prohibits peace officers from using chokeholds. All chokeholds are prohibited under EPD's Use of Force policy unless deadly force is authorized, the DA said.
Vasina's report on the case did not note any use of a chokehold, according to Denver7. Vasina turned himself in to Denver Sheriff Department deputies on Monday, November 3. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond. His first court date has not been scheduled. Padden said a conviction of the felony assault charge carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison.
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