The Madrigal Triumph: Always Videotape the Police

by Will Grigg
Feb. 11, 2014

Last August, Victor and Alissa Madrigal held a birthday party for their daughter at their home in Idaho Falls. The celebration was a little noisy, but none of the next-door neighbors was troubled by it.

One woman several blocks away, who harbored a grudge against the Madrigals, called the police to complain about the noise. When the officers arrived, they didn’t knock on the door to ask the family to quiet down; they barged onto the property without permission or a warrant, and told Victor that he would be cited for disturbing the peace. One of the cops, Officer Clark Lund, demanded Victor’s ID – and then arrested him when he turned to comply with the demand. Victor and his brother, Delosanto, were tasered, assaulted, and arrested. The police shoved one pregnant woman to the ground, and also shoved Victor’s 79-year-old mother.

Victor and his brother were charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and assault on an officer. On Friday, a jury acquitted them of all charges – in large measure because the sworn testimony of the officers was contradicted by cellphone video of the incident.

This case is one of many illustrating the need for an independent record of all dealings with the police.