In February 2015, Sgt. Blake Allen conducted a traffic stop on Kerry Martin for speeding. During the stop, Allen questioned Martin’s passenger, Lorenzo Alcudia, about his immigration status, leading to Alcudia’s detention by federal agents and subsequent deportation proceedings. The Vermont Human Rights Commission found that Allen’s actions were discriminatory, based on Alcudia’s skin color and national origin. In June 2016, the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department settled the case for $30,000 without admitting wrongdoing. The settlement also required the department to adopt bias-free policing policies and undergo related training.
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