CBP officer pleads guilty to using unreasonable force

Officer accused of assaulting individual at the Calexico Port of Entry

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to using unreasonable force on a person at the Calexico Port of Entry.

The incident happened at a Primary Vehicle Lane booth at the port in November of 2018. During the course of an inspection, Officer Esaul Bello put both hands around the neck of the person, and shook them. The person was not offering any resistance at the time of the assault.

“This is a rare and troubling situation,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “I assure you that we will always move swiftly to protect the public from rogue officers who use their power to violate another person's Constitutional rights.”

As a condition of his plea, Bello agreed to resign from CPB and forfeit his security clearance. A federal judge will sentence him on June 2.