Prosecutors upgraded the charges against a New Mexico cop from manslaughter to second-degree murder Thursday after a Latino man died in his custody from being put in a neck restraint. An autopsy concluded that Valenzuela died from asphyxial injuries, and a coroner ruled his death a homicide. Charges were upped Thursday against Smelser after reignited scrutiny on police use of deadly force in the wake of George Floyd's death. Floyd, a Black man, died in police custody in May after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes. “Officer Smelser used a technique that was sanctioned by the department.

Source: Fox News July 17, 2020 18:56 UTC