Bend police fire officer Kevin Uballez after conclusion of excessive force investigation

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Kevin Uballez was fired from the Bend police force Friday after an investigation into an arrest he made in 2021, when he was accused of slamming a man's head into the ground.

The man he arrested was accused of being drunk and in the middle of a NW Bend street around 1 a.m.

Uballez faced criminal charges for the incident, although they were later dropped. Bend Police then started an internal investigation into the alleged excessive force, which wrapped up not long ago, ending in his termination on Friday, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told NewsChannel 21 on Friday.

"Because of an ongoing civil lawsuit and the fact that this is a personnel employment issue, we cannot provide further information about his departure, Miller added.

A $1.4 million lawsuit filed in Deschutes County was dismissed late last year, court records show, but a similar federal civil rights case is reportedly still pending in courts.

While on paid leave for 2 1/2 years, Uballez received more than $180,000 in compensation, Miller confirmed. Police said Uballez worked at a patrol officer and in the K-9 unit. He was on the force for seevn years.