NEWS
BCSO deputy indicted on child abuse and battery charges
Bryan Lassley, who has been on paid leave since December, faces felony charges of aggravated battery and child abuse after lapel footage showed him shoving and slamming a 16-year-old girl
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A grand jury has indicted a deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office after he was accused of allegedly using excessive force against a juvenile late last year.
Bryan Lassley is charged with one count of felony aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and intentional or reckless abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm.
He was indicted on Monday and an arraignment hearing is scheduled for June 15, according to court records. His attorney was not available for comment.
The charges stem from a Dec. 3 incident when Lassley was called to assist another deputy after a 16-year-old girl had allegedly gotten into a fight with a court security guard at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention and Youth Service Center.
Lapel footage released by BCSO in April showed Lassley shove the teen by her face and throat into a patrol vehicle after she walked toward him while calling him a "pig." The video then showed Lassley grab the girl by her hair and slam her into the floorboard of the vehicle before another deputy stepped in to deescalate the situation.
Lassley has been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 10, when the BCSO said Sheriff John Allen first learned of the allegations. During an April news conference, Allen said that he was "pissed and appalled" to watch the video and said that he expects his deputies to hold themselves to a higher standard.
BCSO opened an Internal Affairs investigation into the incident until it was paused after it was decided that the incident required an outside criminal investigation.
"Sheriff Allen has been clear that the conduct alleged in this case is unacceptable and has no place at the Bernalillo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office," wrote Jayme Gonzales, spokesperson for BCSO, in an email. "Now that an indictment has been returned, Deputy Lassley will be placed on administrative leave without pay in accordance with employment law and the union contract."
The administrative investigation is paused while the criminal case proceeds and when that is finalized, the internal investigation will resume, Gonzales said.
After that, a decision on Lassley's employment will be determined, though Allen previously said he would fire Lassley regardless of what the 2nd Judicial District Attorney鈥檚 Office decided.
It is not the first time Lassley has come under scrutiny since joining BCSO in 2019.
In 2024, Lassley crashed into a car after an attempted traffic stop in the North Valley. An investigation found Lassley was driving 45 mph over the speed limit before rear-ending Alexandria Girard, 43.
Girard was fatally injured when she crashed into a brick wall after being struck by Lassley's SUV. Data from the deputy's SUV showed he slowed down and then sped up just before impact.
No charges were filed against Lassley in the crash.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
