Roswell police chief condemns million dollar lawsuit pay out

From KOB-TV.com - By: Joe Bartels, KOB Eyewitness News 4; Taryn Bianchin, KOB.com - The interim Roswell police chief is calling a wrongful death settlement against his department a big mistake. State Representative and Roswell Police Chief Dennis Kintigh spoke out for the first time publicly on Monday since the city settled earlier this month. The chief stands by his officers involved in a 2008 incident during which a man died while in police custody. He condemns the city for settling the lawsuit brought on by the man’s family. City leaders decided earlier this month to settle a $1.25 million lawsuit that alleged Roswell officers Tased, pepper-sprayed, and then hand cuffed Javier Aguilar. The office of the medical examiner found Aguilar died of positional asphyxia, a condition where a person cannot breath based on their body’s position. Javier Aguilar had a history of mental illness and weighed in excess of 300 pounds. The police chief says Aguilar fought with officers when they tried to commit him to a mental institution.He says Aguilar had one the officers in a headlock and that officers responded with appropriate force because their lives were in danger. “The officers of the Roswell police department have been vilified, the public treasury has been looted as a result of this settlement,” said Chief Dennis Kintigh, who continued “We are often told ‘You can’t comment because there is pending litigation,’ and it makes us look like we’ve got something to hide, and that’s what frustrates me.” Read more

Roswell police chief condemns million dollar lawsuit pay out