ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office released body camera video from a December encounter that ended with Deputy Bryan Lassley losing his job.
The sheriff’s office released the video after a deputy followed a girl investigators said had assaulted someone at the courthouse.
Video shows the deputy running after the girl and taking her to the ground as he tried to restrain her.
Investigators said the girl fought back by scratching and biting officers.
Deputy Bryan Lassley later arrived to photograph the girl for injuries, when a confrontation between them escalated.
He told investigators he thought the girl was going to try to bite him.
Deputy Lassley was placed on administrative leave immediately after the incident.
Sheriff John Allen said he ordered the case be investigated independently through the Multi-Agency Task Force, with the New Mexico State Police taking the lead.
BCSO said after NMSP completed its investigation, the case was forwarded to the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecutorial review.
Lassley has since been terminated from his job.
Sheriff John Allen responds
Sheriff John Allen issued the following statement:
“What is alleged in this case is unacceptable. Deputies are entrusted with tremendous authority, and that authority comes with a nonnegotiable expectation of self-control, professionalism, and respect for the people we serve. When someone wearing this badge loses control and violates that trust, it damages our community and it dishonors every deputy who does the job the right way. I have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. If you cannot keep your composure and do the right thing when a situation is stressful, you do not belong in law enforcement.”
Not the first incident with Lassley
This was not the first investigation involving Lassley.
In 2024, Lassley was involved in a fatal crash after a woman in a car he was closely pursuing hit a wall at high speed.
The woman’s family has filed a lawsuit.
