Settlement Reached Between Las Cruces And Family Of Antonio Valenzuela

Las Cruces will pay an unspecified monetary settlement to the family of Antonio Valenzeula, the man who died after a traffic stop in February.  The city will also seek to adopt racial bias training for police and may require officers to intervene in possible excessive force episodes following Valenzuela's death. An agreement announced Thursday between the city of Las Cruces and a lawyer for Valenzuela's family was part of the relatives' push to reform the city police department. Police say then-Las Cruces Officer Christopher Smelser applied a chokehold after Valenzuela fled during the traffic stop. Smelser was later fired and faces a murder charge.