Deputy Suspended After Video Shows Him Hurling Baby Bunny at Car

A deputy in Grant County, New Mexico, has been relieved of duty following the release of footage depicting him aggressively tossing a defenseless baby rabbit against his vehicle while smiling. The incident occurred last August outside Hachita, when officers found a small rabbit in the dirt.

In the video, recorded by fellow officers and shared on social media, a group of deputies pulls over and examines a tiny bunny roughly the size of a grapefruit. An unidentified deputy is seen gently holding the animal, pleading with a colleague to refrain from taking the rabbit away. He repeatedly asks, “Promise you’re not going to kill it,” and insists, “Swear to God,” as he shields the rabbit in his hands.

Despite the pleas, Gomez, 27, attempts to force the animal from the other deputy’s grasp using a stun gun. The weapon’s light indicates it was aimed at his colleague. As tensions escalate, Gomez suddenly hurls the rabbit into the side of his patrol car, drawing widespread criticism.

The footage also reveals another deputy, visibly upset, gently caressing the rabbit and resisting Gomez’s aggressive demands to hand over the animal. The video shows Gomez smiling as he prepares to launch the creature, then capturing the moment of impact as he throws it against the vehicle.

The video’s uploader, another officer, reacts with laughter at the cruel act, which has sparked outrage. Gomez now faces four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, and a felony charge of extreme cruelty to animals. Despite the incident, both the sergeant and the witnessing deputy remain employed, with no disciplinary action taken against them, according to authorities.