A Denver Police Department officer has been fired for a second time for using excessive force against a combative woman in a holding cell.

James Medina originally was fired for his actions during the July 2014 arrest of Seryina Trujillo. But a Civil Service Commission hearing officer reinstated Medina in July 2015 after he appealed the termination.

The civil service board on Tuesday overrode the hearing officer, saying the termination was appropriate punishment, according to a decision written by executive director Earl Peterson.

“It was Officer Medina who escalated the situation in the holding cell, turning it into a physical altercation,” the Civil Service Commission wrote in its decision.

Medina had taken Trujillo into custody after she interfered with officers and firefighters who were taking two men to the Denver Cares detox unit. Trujillo spit on Medina as she was being escorted to a police car and then kicked Medina in the face as she was put inside, according to earlier reports on the case.

At a holding cell in the District 2 substation, Trujillo refused to take off her shoes and belt. The two got into a struggle that was captured by a video camera in the cell.

During the struggle, Medina told the woman “Don’t cry now” and “Tell it to God.”

Medina pinned Trujillo by placing his knee on her chest during a struggle to remove her belt and shoes. She appeared to go limp.

Medina filled out a use-of-force report for punching Trujillo in the police car, but he waited five days to fill out a report for the holding cell scuffle.

Trujillo later pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, according to court records.

Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or @Noelle_Phillips