City Will Pay $999K To Man Injured In Violent Arrest In This Marin County Town

SAN RAFAEL, CA — In the wake of a San Rafael Police officer's acquittal in connection with a violent 2022 arrest, the City has agreed to pay $999,000 to the man arrested.

Julio Jimenez Lopez, 39, sustained severe injuries during a takedown by Officer Brandon Nail. On Oct. 14, a Marin County jury acquitted Nail, who remains on the force after facing criminal charges of assault and making false statements stemming from the bloody altercation.

On July 27, 2022, Nail was accused of an incident involving use of force with Lopez. Nail was originally charged in June 2023 along with former Officer Daisy Mazariegos.

Body camera footage captured the entire incident. The video shows landscaper Lopez and two companions drinking beer on a side street. When Mazariegos asked what they were doing, they responded, "nothing." Mazariegos then pointed out their open beer containers and asked one of the men for identification.

When the man stood to retrieve his ID, Nail forcibly took him to the ground, punched him, and pressed his face into the asphalt. The man, with a bloody face, was then led to the squad car, repeatedly stating his innocence.

In August 2024, a judge dismissed all charges against Mazariegos. The City of San Rafael placed Nail on administrative leave after an internal investigation found he violated SRPD policy. Nail was fired, but an independent arbitrator overturned the decision, reinstating him with full back pay. The City, left with no other legal remedies, reinstated Nail following the verdict.

Nail's attorney's released a statement after the verdict.

"After one suspect repeatedly disobeyed the officers' orders to stay seated, and after warning him, they attempted to handcuff him for all of their safety," the release stated. "Instead of complying, the suspect tensed up, pulled his hands and arms forward, resisting the officers' efforts to restrain him."

The Police Advisory and Accountability Committee was established in San Rafael in 2024. Its purpose is to improve public transparency and police accountability, and it provides yearly recommendations to the City Council.