Disabled Man Arrested at Target: What Did Officer Kenneth Skeens Do?

Disabled Man Arrested at Target

In August 2022, a distressing incident occurred at a Target store in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where a disabled 53-year-old man was unlawfully arrested. The incident was captured on bodycam footage and gained public attention when it was released by the authorities. In the video, the man can be seen struggling to complete a purchase at a self-checkout counter.

Instead of offering assistance, former Albuquerque Police Department officer Kenneth Skeens confronted the man and ultimately arrested him, alleging criminal trespassing. The disabled man, who had not committed any crime warranting detention, was forcibly removed from the store by Skeens and other officers. He repeatedly insisted that he had done nothing wrong and even called 911 during the altercation.

Subsequently, the charges against the disabled man were dropped as he was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Skeens faced severe consequences for his actions, including being fired from the police department and charged with multiple offenses, including false imprisonment, perjury, filing a false police report, and battery. The incident sparked outrage and raised concerns about excessive use of force and abuse of power by law enforcement.

Who is Kenneth Skeens?

Kenneth Skeens is a former Albuquerque Police Department officer who gained notoriety due to his involvement in the unlawful arrest of a disabled man at a Target store in August 2022. Skeens had been with the police department since June 2018 but was eventually fired in February 2024 for his actions during the incident. He faced criminal charges, including false imprisonment, perjury, filing a false police report, and battery, in connection with the arrest.

What Did Officer Kenneth Skeens Do?

Officer Kenneth Skeens was at the center of the controversy surrounding the unlawful arrest of the disabled man at the Target store. He was captured on bodycam footage forcibly removing the man from the store, using physical force and handcuffing him. Skeens, who had been with the Albuquerque Police Department since June 2018, was subsequently fired in February 2024, as his superiors deemed the arrest to be unlawful and an abuse of power.

Kenneth Skeens faced multiple charges, including false imprisonment, perjury, filing a false police report, and battery, related to his actions during the incident. The New Mexico Attorney General’s office accused him of using excessive force and abusing his authority as a police officer. Additionally, it was revealed that Skeens had a history of questionable conduct, including a prior suspension in 2018 for making an unlawful arrest and his involvement in a separate incident where three officers shot and killed a drunk man.

Albuquerque Target Disabled Man Charges

The incident at the Albuquerque Target store involving the disabled man led to a series of charges that were initially levied against him. In August 2022, the disabled man, who was visibly struggling to complete a purchase at the store’s self-checkout counter, found himself in a confrontational situation with the police, particularly Officer Kenneth Skeens. He was charged with concealing identity and resisting officers as a result of the incident.

However, these charges were later dropped after it was determined that the man was not competent to stand trial. This decision underscored the complex nature of the case, highlighting that the man’s disabilities and his difficulties with the self-checkout process should have been approached with greater sensitivity and understanding rather than resulting in criminal charges.

Kenneth Skeens Career

Kenneth Skeens had a tumultuous career as a police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He joined the Albuquerque Police Department in June 2018, but his tenure was marred by a series of controversial incidents that raised serious questions about his conduct and professionalism. One notable event in Skeens’s career was a suspension in 2018 for making an unlawful arrest. This early incident foreshadowed the challenges he would face in maintaining ethical and legal standards as a law enforcement officer.

However, it was the incident in 2022 August that would ultimately define his career. Skeens became widely known for his involvement in the unlawful arrest of a disabled man at a Target store. This incident led to charges of false imprisonment, perjury, filing a false police report, and battery being filed against him. The arrest was highly publicized, and the subsequent outrage from the public and the legal system resulted in his termination from the police force in February 2024.

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