MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Former Milwaukee Police Detective Rodolfo Gomez Jr. pleaded not guilty in court on Friday, January 10th to one count of misconduct in public office for allegedly using excessive force on a suspect.
Gomez, a 12-year veteran of MPD, is accused of striking a suspect during an August interrogation at the Milwaukee Police Administration Building.
According to the criminal complaint, Gomez was assigned to assist with an investigation into the homicide of an infant. During the investigation process, Gomez initiated an interrogation of a suspect.
During the interrogation, the suspect allegedly began yelling at Gomez. Then, Gomez pushed the suspect into the corner of the interrogation room and punched him in the face and upper body multiple times with a closed fist, according to the complaint.
The complaint indicates Gomez is also accused of striking the suspect with his knee.
According to the complaint, Gomez repeatedly told the suspect to stay down and stop resisting. The complaint indicates the suspect, whose left hand was handcuffed, never struck Gomez.
During the altercation another official intervened and separated Gomez and the suspect, according to the complaint.
Following the altercation, Gomez returned to the interview room with two other deputies in order to transport the suspect to a holding cell. During this encounter, Gomez allegedly grabbed the suspect’s face in a forcible manner and delivered another knee strike — according to the complaint.
Gomez is expected to go to trial starting on May 5th.