Former ABQ police officer charged with felonies after alleged unlawful arrest of man with disabilities

A former Albuquerque police officer was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors Thursday for unlawfully arresting a man with disabilities who was struggling to complete a purchase with cash at a Target store last year, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Kenneth Skeens, the former officer, was fired in February in connection with the August 2022 incident.

“Rather than acting as a professional public servant and a guardian of vulnerable members of this community, Mr. Skeens engaged in abusive and unlawful behavior that undermined public safety and violated his oath as a peace officer in the state of New Mexico,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement.

A criminal information charges Skeens with false imprisonment and perjury, which are fourth-degree felonies, and filing a false police report and battery, which are misdemeanors.

Skeens’ attorney said he learned of the charges Thursday when contacted by the Journal.

“They were certainly on the radar, but I did not anticipate them,” said John D’Amato, Skeens’ attorney. “If he retains my office we’ll be prepared to defend the action.”

Two other Albuquerque police officers — Marcos Flores and Gregory Radigan — were also involved in the call at the store. It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday if they faced any discipline in connection with the incident.

In the Target at Coors and Paseo del Norte NW that night, Skeens’ on-body camera showed him approach a 53-year-old man who was using cash that was splayed out on the counter as he tried to pay for a bicycle in the self-checkout aisle. The man appeared confused.

The footage shows Skeens and Radigan grab the man by his arms and drag him from the store while he plants his feet on the ground.

Once outside, the man, who is difficult to understand, refused to provide his name as he took out his phone and called 911 to complain about “security.” At one point, he tells the officers as they are arresting him that he didn’t know they were police officers.

“That’s your own fault,” Skeens said.

Police previously said that Skeens, the primary officer, and the other police officers didn’t have a lawful reason for arresting the man. Also, police noted officers used force during the unlawful arrest.

The man received a criminal summons for charges of concealing identity and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. The charges were dismissed months later when the man was determined not to be competent to stand trial.

Torrez on Thursday credited Albuquerque police for alerting the Attorney General’s Office to the incident and for firing Skeens.

“We took immediate action when we learned about the allegations of unacceptable behavior by this individual who abused his oath as a police officer,” Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina said in the news release. “Our officers work hard every day to earn the trust of the people they serve. We appreciate the work of the Attorney General’s Office to hold this person accountable and ensure that no one is above the law.”

The criminal information said Skeens was charged with perjury because he made a false statement under oath. It also says that he filed a report charging another person with a crime, and Skeens knew the report was false.

Nine days after the incident at Target, Skeens, Flores and another officer — Dustin Ketchum — shot and killed Keshawn Thomas at a Valero gas station after they said he had picked up a gun.

The police department found that all three officers failed to de-escalate the situation as they argued with Thomas, who was intoxicated. Investigators also determined that Skeens violated department policies when he shot Thomas.

Thomas’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the fatal shooting.