A US Army lieutenant has filed a lawsuit against two Virginia police officers over what court papers say was a violent traffic stop, where officers pointed their guns, knocked him to the ground, pepper-sprayed him and "threatened to murder him".
The lawsuit, filed by army officer Caron Nazario, on April 2 in Norfolk, Virginia, against Windsor policemen Joe Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker, alleges violations to his constitutional rights and includes assault, illegal search and illegal detention.
The incident captured on video comes at a time of heightened awareness over police arrests of minorities and racial justice in the wake of the ongoing televised trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin, following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in May.
Telephone calls to the two police officers named in the suit, the Windsor police department and Mr Nazario's attorney, Jonathan Arthur, were not immediately returned to Reuters.
Mr Nazario, who is Latino and black, was in uniform and driving his new off-roader with a temporary paper tag displayed on the back window on December 5, when he was told to pull over on US Highway 460 in Windsor, Virginia, a town of about 2,600 residents, south-east of Richmond.
When a police cruiser signalled for him to stop, the lawsuit says Mr Nazario put on his indicators, slowed down and looked for a well-lit place.
An officer radioed to dispatch that a driver without a tag was "eluding police" and it was considered a "high-risk stop", and another police officer responded to the scene.
Mr Nazario stopped at a nearby petrol station, less than two minutes after being signalled to pull over. During the stop, which was captured on police body cameras and Mr Nazario's cell phone, Mr Nazario told police that he was afraid to get out of the vehicle. An officer responded, "Yeah you should be," the lawsuit says.
An officer also stated that Mr Nazario was "fixing to ride the lightning", in an apparent reference to execution by electrocution.
During the arrest, the lawsuit says Mr Nazario had his hands up, offered no resistance, but was pepper-sprayed and violently knocked to the ground and detained. The police chief responded to the scene and Mr Nazario was released without charges, the lawsuit says.
After the altercation, officer Gutierrez said he understood why Mr Nazario looked for a well-lit place to pull over and said: "I get it, the media spewing race relations between law enforcement and minorities. I get it."
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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India cancels school-leaving examinations
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
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The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
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8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
