3 deputies off the job after teen suspect punched in head

Three Colorado sheriff’s deputies are no longer on the job after one of them punched a teenage suspect in the back of the head.

Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams announced the moves Wednesday and released a video of the Oct. 18 incident.

It shows the suspect resisting an order to put his hands on a table in an interview room so he could be handcuffed. Deputy Paul Saunders then punched him in the back of the head. When the suspect questioned whether that was legal, he was told that it was “pain compliance”.

Reams said Saunders, who was hired in June, was fired and charged with third-degree assault. One of the two other deputies present was fired and the other resigned.

Saunders’ lawyer wasn’t immediately available for comment.