July 12--Pueblo police officer Michael Sincerbox told a jury Wednesday that slapping an intoxicated, handcuffed teenager more than a year ago was the wrong thing to do.
But he also said it was a split-second reaction after Skyrone Roebuck, then 16, reared back as if to head butt or spit at him while he was taking pictures of the boy's injuries.
Sincerbox's testimony closed the evidentiary portion of the trial Wednesday. He told the jury he was assigned to investigate the use of force by his fellow officers when they arrested Roebuck earlier on Feb. 22, 2011. Roebuck attacked officer Bernadette Lambert, swinging and striking her at least once before being overcome by Lambert and two other officers. As acting sergeant that night, Sincerbox told the jury he was responsible for investigating that use of force, which included getting statements from Roebuck and photographing injuries to his face.
Sincerbox said he tried to accomplish this at Parkview Medical Center and Roebuck had been loud, obnoxious and even threatening since he arrived. Sincerbox said he doesn't typically stand very close to a combative and intoxicated subject, but he had to get close enough to photograph swelling around Roebuck's eye.
When Roebuck reared up on the bed, Sincerbox said Roebuck struck him after directed profanity at him and challenging him to "say it again."
When Roebuck obliged, Sincerbox slapped him a second time. Then, for a third time, Roebuck swore at Sincerbox and the officer slapped the suspect.
Sincerbox then took one photo and left.
While Sincerbox said he considered Roebuck's initial movement threatening, he knew what he did was wrong. "I stooped to the level he was at," Sincerbox said.
"Yes, I felt bad about it and I still feel bad about it to this day, but at no time did I realize it was a potential criminal act." Sincerbox is charged with a misdemeanor count of official oppression.
Sincerbox said he believed he was subduing a combative individual who was interfering with his investigation. Closing arguments are scheduled for this morning.
Copyright 2012 - The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
