Opening statements in the trial for a former Albuquerque police officer accused of excessive force began at the Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Police body camera footage from APD captured 30-year-old Kenneth Skeens and two other officers arresting Matthew McManus, 53, with disabilities, while struggling to make a purchase at Target in Northwest Albuquerque in August 2022. MORE: Former APD officer charged for unlawful arrest of disabled man >>Warning: Viewers may find video disturbing"The testimony is going to show on that day that Mr. Skeens says, 'I just want to know— I just want to get that guy's ID. I just want to know who he is.' and this is before he makes contact with Mr. McManus, who's just trying to pay for his bicycle," State prosecutor Johnna Walker expressed during opening statements on Tuesday. "You're going to hear Officer Skeens say, 'We like taking bad people to jail, and I'm going to bet this fellow has got a warrant or two.' At this point, nobody — he hasn't spoken to McManus, he doesn't know who that individual is," Walker said. Related: APD promises transparency over use-of-force cases Criminal ChargesFalse imprisonmentPerjuryMaking a false report of a violation of the criminal codeBattery (initially)Skeens attorney, John D'Amato, argues he had authorization from Target to proceed."Had McManus complied and left the store on his own accord, no charges would have come — no charges would have come. So, I think the evidence by the end of the case will show you, you do have reasonable doubt as to whether Skeens committed false imprisonment and actually did commit the perjury and filing the false report," D'Amato said."As the case develops, the arguments will show you how the false imprisonment falls away and how filing a police report and perjury falls away," D'Amato added.Snippets from body camera footageOfficer: Hey, Sir. Albuquerque Police. Go ahead and grab all your money. Let's walk out. OK?Officer: Just put your money down. OK?Man: I had it in there tied up. So, it took me a while.Officer: Take your money out. You're coming with us now. OK?Man: It just took me a little while.Officer: Gotcha. You took too long.Skeens' first trial regarding McManus ended in a hung jury in April 2024. According to prosecutors, if found guilty, Skeens could face up to four years in prison. APD terminated Skeens in 2023 following an investigation into the incident.Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. Download here.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Opening statements in the trial for a former Albuquerque police officer accused of excessive force began at the Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Police body camera footage from APD captured 30-year-old Kenneth Skeens and two other officers arresting Matthew McManus, 53, with disabilities, while struggling to make a purchase at Target in Northwest Albuquerque in August 2022.
MORE: Former APD officer charged for unlawful arrest of disabled man
>>Warning: Viewers may find video disturbing
"The testimony is going to show on that day that Mr. Skeens says, 'I just want to know— I just want to get that guy's ID. I just want to know who he is.' and this is before he makes contact with Mr. McManus, who's just trying to pay for his bicycle," State prosecutor Johnna Walker expressed during opening statements on Tuesday.
"You're going to hear Officer Skeens say, 'We like taking bad people to jail, and I'm going to bet this fellow has got a warrant or two.' At this point, nobody — he hasn't spoken to McManus, he doesn't know who that individual is," Walker said.
Related: APD promises transparency over use-of-force cases
Criminal Charges
- False imprisonment
- Perjury
- Making a false report of a violation of the criminal code
- Battery (initially)
Skeens attorney, John D'Amato, argues he had authorization from Target to proceed.
"Had McManus complied and left the store on his own accord, no charges would have come — no charges would have come. So, I think the evidence by the end of the case will show you, you do have reasonable doubt as to whether Skeens committed false imprisonment and actually did commit the perjury and filing the false report," D'Amato said.
"As the case develops, the arguments will show you how the false imprisonment falls away and how filing a police report and perjury falls away," D'Amato added.
Snippets from body camera footage
Officer: Hey, Sir. Albuquerque Police. Go ahead and grab all your money. Let's walk out. OK?
Officer: Just put your money down. OK?
Man: I had it in there tied up. So, it took me a while.
Officer: Take your money out. You're coming with us now. OK?
Man: It just took me a little while.
Officer: Gotcha. You took too long.
Skeens' first trial regarding McManus ended in a hung jury in April 2024. According to prosecutors, if found guilty, Skeens could face up to four years in prison. APD terminated Skeens in 2023 following an investigation into the incident.
Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. Download here.
