San Diego Officer Accused of Excessive Force in Body Camera Incident

San Diego, CA, August 21, 2026 —

In San Diego, a disturbing incident captured on police body camera footage has prompted an investigation into the actions of a tribal police officer. The video reportedly shows San Pasqual Tribal Police Officer Christopher Palomares, who was a corporal at the time of the incident, placing a firearm against the neck of a handcuffed 15-year-old male, identified as Mathew Kirby Jr. The officer is also alleged to have threatened the teenager’s life.

The confrontation occurred during a traffic stop. According to reports, a handgun was discovered on the teen during the stop. Despite the gravity of the events depicted in the body camera footage, Palomares has since been promoted and is now serving as the police chief.

Federal authorities, including the FBI and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, are reportedly involved in an investigation into the incident. The actions of the officer have drawn criticism from experts who deem the conduct excessive and inconsistent with standard police training protocols.

Further complicating the situation are noted discrepancies between Palomares’s written reports detailing the incident and the evidence presented by the body camera footage. Questions have also been raised regarding the validity of his claimed police training certifications. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI have not released further details regarding the ongoing investigation at this time.

Story summarized from the original created by Alexis Rivas, Mike Dorfman and Meredith Royster on www.nbcsandiego.com, see more information here.

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