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, a Mexican citizen, about his immigration status, asking if he was ‘supposed to be here.’ Allen called U.S. Border Patrol agents, who detained Alcudia for hours. The Vermont Human Rights Commission found that Alcudia’s skin color and national origin played a chief role in his treatment during the stop. The Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department settled the case for $30,000, with the funds split between Alcudia and the Human Rights Commission. The department also agreed to adopt a bias-free policing policy and provide related training to its deputies.
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