UPDATE: Santos arrested on violation of probation

A Salisbury man, who has accused the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office of brutality, is behind bars again.

The Sheriff’s Office say on Monday, a Deputy responded on Viewfield Drive, to arrest 40-year-old Miguel Santos-Villalta on a District Court bench warrant, after he apparently violated his probation following a September 2014 conviction of intoxicated endangerment. Santos had apparently received a suspended jail sentence for that conviction.

While a Deputy was taking Santos into custody on the violation of probation charge, his fiance, 37-year-old Liza Nichols, reportedly kept trying to speak to Santos, and interrupted the Deputy. According to the report, the Deputy asked Nichols to stop interfering with the arrest, but she didn’t, and stated that she could do whatever she desired.

Once Santos was in custody, Nichols was also arrested, on charges of hindering an obstructing and interfering with an arrest. Nichols was also apparently wanted in Somerset County on a Circuit Court bench warrant. She was released on the hindering charges, but is being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center awaiting transfer to Somerset County.

After an initial appearance with the District Court Commissioner, Santos was also held at the WCDC on $10,000 bond.

Santos was arrested back on January 3rd, on S. Salisbury Boulevard during a traffic stop, and charged with assault 2nd degree on a Deputy, resisting arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving while suspended. The Sheriff’s Office says during that stop, Santos attempted to choke the Deputy.

After his release, Santos claimed police brutality, while the Sheriff’s told 47 ABC that he felt the Deputy was justified in their actions. Santos told 47 ABC on January 7th, that he was planning on taking legal action against the Sheriff’s Office.