THORNTON, Colo. — An Adams County deputy is back to his regular job after punching a woman at a Thornton Walmart.
Deputy Ezekiel Spotts had been on restricted duty while investigations played out.
According to a heavily redacted internal affairs investigation obtained by 9NEWS, the sheriff's office disciplined Spotts for violating their "Professional Conduct" policy. However, the sheriff's office refused to say how Spotts was disciplined.
"I don’t think he should be in law enforcement. He has anger issues," Linda Hurley told 9NEWS.
In July, Spotts got into an altercation with Hurley and her daughter. When police responded, body camera video shows, he informed them he worked for the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
Video shows Spotts pushing Hurley's daughter first. She hits him, and then he punches her in the face.
The first altercation happened near the doorway to the store, and it was captured by a Walmart security camera.
Spotts then came to Hurley's car to get their license plate number, and there was a second altercation. It was not recorded. Hurley described a violent scene.
"Next thing I know, he’s hitting her with one hand, and choking her with the other," Hurley said.
She said she did what she could to get Spotts off her daughter. Spotts showed scratches to police at the scene, and said he hit Hurley too.
“I let her have it," he said on police body camera.
Thornton police investigated, and the district attorney declined to bring charges against anyone.
The sheriff's office then began an internal investigation. In 2018, internal affairs records obtained by 9NEWS show, Spotts was recommended to get a five-day suspension for a use of force incident. This time around, the sheriff's office will not disclose his punishment, because, a spokesperson said, the fight did not happen on-duty, or while he was in uniform.
"He's getting that special treatment," Hurley said.
In the internal affairs files obtained by 9NEWS, the sheriff's office completely redacted Spotts' version of events.
Even though the district attorney declined to charge Spotts, a spokesperson said they withheld his version to protect his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself if the DA ever changed his mind.
Hurley said she still suffers from concussion symptoms, and her daughter cannot walk without a brace.