Virginia police officer fired after Black Army lieutenant is pepper-sprayed and handcuffed during traffic stop

Police officers in Virginia held an Army officer at gunpoint, handcuffed him and doused him with pepper spray — all during an illegal traffic stop. Officials said Sunday that one of the officers has been fired. 

Officer Joe Gutierrez was fired following the December 5 incident, which was captured on video, the town of Windsor, Virginia said in a statement Sunday, acknowledging the "unfortunate events that transpired." Caron Nazario, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, who is Black and Latino, is suing the town.  Following an internal investigation, the town said that Gutierrez did not follow department policy. They did not provide any further information on the other officer involved in the incident, Daniel Crocker, but said the department is requiring additional training.