BUCKEYE, AZ — A Buckeye police officer is on unpaid leave after a grand jury brought indictments against her following two separate use-of-force incidents.
Buckeye Police Chief Robert Sanders released a statement Thursday confirming the charges against Officer Carri Carrico.
Carrico is facing aggravated assault charges related to two separate use-of-force incidents involving individuals in custody.
Sanders said he requested the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office conduct an independent investigation into the incidents in January.
Details about the two incidents have not been released at this point.
"I will always stand firm in supporting the men and women of the Buckeye Police Department who honorably serve this community and dedicate their lives to helping people," Sanders said. "When an officer betrays community trust and Department values, I have a duty to pursue the facts and take action that is fair and just."
The Buckeye police Professional Standards Unit is also investigating the incidents.
According to court records, Officer Carrico is accused of hitting a woman who was 37 weeks pregnant while she was handcuffed.
The incident happened last November after arresting the unknown woman for reckless driving.
Records say that videos show Carrico shoved the woman while attempting to restrain her to a bench. After the shove, the woman reacted by grabbing the officer’s hand while handcuffed behind her back. That’s when records say that Officer Carrico punched the woman on the right side of her face.
During an interview with the victim in this case, the woman said she felt a “jab” on her face and saw “black and spots.”
Then, in a second incident in January, Officer Carrico is accused of an “unprovoked strike.”
Video shows Carrico allegedly punching a man who was handcuffed and being physically controlled by other officers.
According to court records, Carrico said in a written statement that she did this as a “distraction strike.”
The man who was punched had allegedly lunged towards and head-butted Carrico while being taken into the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office intake facility.
Records go on to say that video shows that the victim was not resisting or attempting to assault the officers when he was punched.
