Just when you thought the horrific story of what happened to David Eckert in New Mexico when he was pulled over for a simple traffic ticket couldn't get worse, it does.
To recap, according to officers, David Eckert was pulled over for not making a complete stop at a stop sign as he left a Walmart parking lot. Officers asked him to step out of the car and claimed he was clinching his buttocks, suspecting he was hiding drugs. A drug dog was called in and officers claimed he "hit" on the driver's seat. David Eckert was subsequently taken into custody and subjected to an unbelievable nightmare of anal searches and invasive medical procedures.
What could be worse? It wasn't the first time this police department, drug dog, and medical facility were involved in such outrageous and unethical behavior:
Our investigation reveals another chapter. Another man, another minor traffic violation, another incident with Leo the K-9 and another example of the violation of a man's body.
Police reports state deputies stopped Timothy Young because he turned without putting his blinker on.
Again, Leo the K-9 alerts on Young's seat.
Young is taken to the Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City, and just like Eckert, he's subjected to medical procedures including x-rays of his stomach and an anal exam.
Again, police found nothing, and again the procedures were done without consent, and in a county not covered by the search warrant.
And that drug dog, Leo? He hasn't been certified since 2011:
We've learned more about that drug dog, Leo, that seems to get it wrong pretty often. He might be getting it wrong because he's not even certified in New Mexico.
If you take a look at the dog's certification, the dog did get trained. But his certification to be a drug dog expired in April 2011. K-9s need yearly re-certification courses, and Leo is falling behind.
Perhaps it is time for the Department of Justice to step in and take a closer look at the Deming, New Mexico Police Department and judicial system.
KOB 4's excellent follow-up news report: