A teen from Phoenix, Arizona, is demanding $500,000 in damages from the city and local police after a disturbing bodycam video surfaced showing officers allegedly instructing his father to physically discipline him.
According to TOO FAB, the January 2024 incident began when police responded to a call regarding Sergio Nino Sr. and his son, Sergio Jr. The father reported that his son had been using drugs, skipping school, and causing problems at home. The tension escalated when Sergio Sr. attempted to remove his son’s bedroom door, which led to a physical altercation.
Police Bodycam Footage Raises Serious Concerns
According to reports, bodycam footage shows Phoenix police officers advising Sergio Sr. to physically punish his son, despite warnings that doing so could land him in legal trouble.
One officer can be heard saying:
“We don’t parent people. That’s your job. If you need to physically discipline him, you physically discipline him. You drag him, you hit him; he only has rights from the government. He has no rights from you.”
Instead of providing de-escalation strategies or mental health resources, the officers allegedly encouraged violent discipline. Although Sergio Jr. tried to explain his side to the officers, one of them called him a brat and said his father should “beat him.”
“Your dad should beat you. Other than sending you to the hospital, your dad should beat you. As a kid, you have to take it. You have no rights. You’re treating him like garbage. Do you pay for your car? House? Phone
The Incident: What Really Happened?
In the following moments, Sergio Jr. found himself in a precarious situation as he attempted to assert his innocence and defend himself against the accusations being levied by the officer. However, the officer escalated the situation by threatening to arrest him for an alleged assault, which prompted a physical confrontation. In the ensuing struggle, Sergio Jr. was forcefully pinned to the ground by the officer despite repeatedly stating that he was trying to retrieve his phone.
As the altercation continued, Sergio Jr. sustained several injuries, the most noticeable being a laceration on his face, which was inflicted during the struggle with the officer. Additionally, he suffered a fractured wrist, a severe injury that ultimately required surgical intervention to heal properly. The impact of these injuries on Sergio Jr.’s daily life has been significant; he has faced challenges in performing simple activities such as writing, participating in his favorite video games, and engaging in exercise.
“To this day, Sergio’s daily life has been limited by his wrist injury. Sergio continues to suffer from the injuries, the medical expenses, and their impact on his life,” Sergio Jr. lawyers said in a statement.