Former Refugio Officer Acquitted After Pepper Spraying Infant During Traffic Stop
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Officer acquitted despite body camera showing pepper spray used on infant during traffic stop; jury deliberated only 23 minutes.
- Police chief testified he wouldn't have used pepper spray and would've de-escalated, but hasn't changed department policy prohibiting the tactic.
- Jordan leaving Refugio Police Department regardless of acquittal; case highlights tensions between police accountability and community safety arguments in small towns.
Controversial Case Divides Small Texas Community
A Refugio County jury took just 23 minutes to find former police officer Lee Jordan not guilty of injuring a three-day-old infant with pepper spray during a March 2021 traffic stop. After less than 30 minutes of deliberation, jurors found Jordan not guilty Wednesday of injuring a child, with Jordan immediately sobbing and hugging both of his attorneys following the verdict.
The verdict came after two days of testimony during which jurors viewed Jordan's body camera video of a traffic stop in which he pepper sprayed Michael Paredes in March 2021, while Paredes' then 3-day-old infant and the child's mother were riding as passengers. The mother of the infant testified during the trial that her child's eyes were swollen shut from the pepper spray.
What Happened During the Traffic Stop
Jordan had pulled Paredes over for speeding and was in the process of arresting him on a warrant charging unlawful carrying of a weapon for an incident weeks prior. Jordan sprayed Paredes in the face after telling him he could not make a phone call, with the 3-day-old infant in the back seat, and the infant was reportedly in distress and kicking and screaming.
Jordan, who was named the 2020 Officer of the Year by the city council in March, was first placed on administrative leave with pay after he was arrested on child injury and official oppression charges April 8. Jordan's state peace officer's license was suspended after his arrest, and he had been charged with injury to a child, a state jail felony that would have permanently prevented him from serving as a peace officer in Texas had he been convicted.
Police Chief Criticized Officer's Actions
Called by the prosecution, Police Chief Enrique Diaz testified he was troubled by the video recorded by Jordan's body camera, saying he would not have used pepper spray and instead would have been more "patient" and deescalated the incident. However, during cross examination, Diaz acknowledged he could have changed police policy to prohibit the use of pepper spray on people inside vehicles but has not done so.
The defense called a use-of-force expert Jerry Staton, who said he concluded Jordan had acted reasonably after viewing Jordan's body camera video and reviewing witness statements, describing the officer as "extremely reserved."
Aftermath and Future Implications
Despite the acquittal, Jordan would not continue his employment with the Refugio Police Department, with his attorney stating "I can virtually guarantee you he wants nothing more to do with Refugio, Texas." Jordan's attorney planned to file a motion expunging his arrest.
The case highlighted tensions around police accountability in small communities. In closing arguments, the defense asked jurors to consider the "trickle down effect" message a conviction would send, arguing it would discourage local law enforcement from doing their jobs and that "Refugio is a less safe place than before this case was prosecuted." Meanwhile, the prosecutor emphasized that "police officers are accountable to the community" and "no one is above the law."