Former KOB
anchor and reporter Cristina Rodda. (Image credit: New Mexico Corrections Dept.)
A former
reporter is suing the city of Albuquerque, N. M., and a police officer for
allegedly deleting evidence of police brutality and tampering with evidence
during a story she was covering.
Cristina Rodda,
a former anchor and reporter for the Albuquerque NBC affiliate station KOB, is
suing Officer Stephanie Lopez of the Albuquerque Police Department. In her
federal court filing this week she cited violation of the first, fourth and
fourteenth amendments, intentionally spoiling evidence, violation of the New
Mexico Tort Claims Act against Lopez. She also cited negligent hiring,
training, supervision and retention against the city.
“We just filed
this week so the city will have 20 days to answer the lawsuit,” B.J. Crow,
Cristina’s attorney told ABC News.com.
On April 29,
2011 the reporter was sent by KOB to Tumbleweeds night club in Albuquerque,
following a tip about a “rave” party where underage people were allegedly
allowed, according to the lawsuit.
Rodda was
filming the entrance of the club from the parking lot, when Officer Lopez
allegedly pushed a young patron to the ground while working crowd control for
the police department. Lopez has reportedly been disciplined for similar
conduct in the past.
Rodda was soon
asked to leave by a club employee and two officers, including Lopez, who
demanded the camera tape, which Rodda refused and tried to leave.
Lopez frisked
and searched Rodda’s purse without consent, later admitting Rodda was compliant
throughout the whole process, according to the suit. The officer took the
camera.
When the tape
was returned to the station the clip of the patron being thrown to the ground
was gone. Lopez later admitted she took the camera home, viewed the tape and
did not tag the camera into evidence with the police department.
“She didn’t have
any business taking that tape,” said Crow. He said the tape was sent to an
expert, who was able to retrieve the clip and determine the clip was deleted
while Lopez had the camera.
“We have proof
that she deleted the clip,” said Crow. “It’s a pretty egregious case; I think
the officer almost committed a crime by tampering with evidence. Because she’s
an officer she could get away with it, I think if she was a regular citizen a
criminal complaint could’ve been filed.”
Rodda was
charged with criminal trespass by Lopez in June of last year, and went to trial
February of this year. Crow said the prosecution did not present enough
evidence to get the case in front of a jury and the case was eventually
dismissed by the judge.
“The criminal
trespass case was frivolous and malicious prosecution to further Officer
Lopez’s own interests in an attempt to cover up the police brutality and not
get in trouble with internal affairs,” states the suit. “This was done for her
own personal gain.”
Rodda is seeking
general, special, medical and punitive damages as well as the costs of
litigation and attorneys’ fees.
KOB confirmed
Rodda was charged on May 31, 2011. Rodda now works for the New Mexico
Corrections Department as director of public information.
The Albuquerque
Police Department and Officer Lopez did not return request for comment.