Nazario Vazquez was found guilty of obstructing official business in Toledo after pleading no contest, court records show. The conviction followed his transfer into federal immigration custody and the public release of police body camera footage on Friday.
The Toledo Police Department released recordings of a Sept. 2 incident and a Sept. 14 arrest. The department stated the release was made in the interest of transparency. They said it provides context regarding recent public concerns.
Family members and immigration advocates had requested the bodycam video. Anthony Beamon called 911 on Sept. 2 after seeing Vazquez lying face down. Beamon thought his neighbor needed medical help.
“The police had jumped on top of him, flipped him over, put him in handcuffs and laid their knees on top of him,” Beamon said.
“They are trying to say he was resisting arrest. That is absolutely not true,” Beamon said.
Police said Vazquez was intoxicated and went to the hospital. Charges followed that encounter. Officers returned to arrest him on Sept. 14.
Court records show most original charges were dismissed. The 51-year-old father of seven was then taken into federal immigration custody. His 15-year-old daughter said officers refused to show her his arrest warrant.
His family argues the arrest led to federal detention. The department insisted his immigration status played no role in their response or his arrest.
The original Sept. 2 encounter led to several charges:
- Assault on a police officer
- Resisting arrest
- Disorderly conduct while intoxicated
The department said the videos provide a direct look at both incidents. Separate public records requests remain pending. Officials said those requests are broader and will take more time to process.
The department addressed the situation in an official statement:
Regarding the City’s Immigration Status and City Resources ordinance, Mr. Vazquez’s immigration status was not the basis for the September 2 police response or his September 14 arrest. TPD initially responded to a call for service on September 2. Following that encounter, Mr. Vazquez was taken to the hospital due to his level of intoxication. The September 14 arrest was based on charges stemming from that encounter, including assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. His immigration status was not the reason for either police action.
The department stated his case is now before the federal court. They noted people may file complaints with the Internal Affairs Section. More information will be released as it becomes available, according to TPD.
Municipal police departments in Toledo respond to emergency calls for service and process public records requests under state transparency guidelines. When criminal cases involve non-citizen residents, local custody may shift to federal immigration authorities following legal processing.
TPD said records will continue to be processed and released.
