Federal investigators are looking into whether Colorado Springs officers committed a crime when they beat a Black veteran during a 2022 traffic stop.

According to CPR News, an internal Department of Justice memorandum shows that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division director referred the case to its criminal division concerning Dalvin Gadson’s accusations that the officers racially discriminated against him and used excessive force.

In December 2022, Gadson filed a civil rights lawsuit against the three officers, who are white. Meanwhile, an internal police investigation in August cleared the three officers a second time of wrongdoing.

“One year later, [CSPD Chief Adrian Vasquez] still refuses to hold his officers accountable after they beat and bloodied an unarmed man over a license tag infraction,” Gadson’s attorney Harry Daniels said in a statement. “Today we are confident that the Department of Justice will begin to correct that injustice and do what he won’t.”

Gadson, who lived in his vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, was pulled over by responding officers for not having license plates and driving 15 mph in a 45 mph zone. Officers said  Gadson “slurred in his speech.”

Bodycam footage released in December 2022 shows officers removing Gadson from his vehicle after he was hesitant to independently get out of his vehicle. Officer Matthew Anderson is seen landing multiple punches to Gadson’s head and abdomen. Gadson was placed facedown on the pavement by multiple officers and handcuffed.

An eye injury and ruptured eardrum were a few of the notable injuries from the arrest, Gadson’s lawyer said.

Prosecutors dropped all charges against Gadson, including misdemeanor DUI and two felony charges of Second-Degree Assault on a Police Officer.

However, the court did order Gadson to pay a $15 fine for a license plate violation.