ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — An Englewood police officer accused of performing a chokehold forbidden by state law on a driver in October has been terminated from his position and now faces multiple criminal charges.

Ryan Scott Vasina, 30, faces charges of second-degree assault (strangulation), third-degree assault and first-degree official misconduct in connection with a traffic stop from the evening of Oct. 8. He turned himself in on an arrest warrant on Monday. Formal charges are expected soon.

The 20-year-old driver in the case was initially arrested and booked into jail on multiple charges, but those have been dismissed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. According to Vasina's arrest affidavit, the driver never tried to resist, flee, or threaten the officer.

The case starte

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