A FORMER BELEN POLICE DETECTIVE IS SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS PROBATION FOR ASSAULTING AN ARRESTEE IN MARCH OF 2012. FORTY-TWO YEAR OLD JOHN LYTLE HAD ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO THE CHARGE IN 2014, ADMITTING THAT HE REPEATEDLY STRUCK THE VICTIM WHO WAS HANDCUFFED AT THE TIME. HE ALSO ADMITTED PULLING THE VICTIM FROM THE POLICE CAR AND THROWING HIM TO THE GROUND.
LYTLE CAN NO LONGER WORK AS A POLICE OFFICER AND MUST FORFEIT HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION.
