Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. > Below: Body camera footage shows the arrest of the 73-year-old. Karen Garner suffered a dislocated shoulder, fractured arm and sprained wrist after officers with the Loveland Police Department slammed her to the ground and hog-tied her June 26, 2020,. She is no longer the happy woman collecting flowers that can be seen in the first seconds of Hopps body camera footage and is now fearful of everyone even her family. Both Hopp and Jalali worked in previous law enforcement jobs before joining the Loveland Police Department. The Larimer County District Attorney's Office later announced there would be an independent investigation of the incident led by Fort Collins Police with help, as needed, from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI. Metzler and three other Loveland officers involved in Garners arrest are no longer with the department, Fort Collins man sues Loveland police officer, alleges wrongful DUI arrest, currently faces multiple felony charges alleging he assaulted Garner, Loveland police buy new body cameras, Tasers to enhance de-escalation, transparency efforts. "We failed, and we are very sorry for that.". Players given Kratom by Colorado coach, police say, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, Lawyer claims new video shows Loveland police knew of injuries caused to 73-year-old woman during arrest, Larimer DA announces independent investigation after forcible arrest of 73-year-old woman, Loveland Police to require training by Alzheimer's Association after excessive force allegation. At least one supervising officer, Sgt. The officers did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. Hopp worked for the Nacogdoches Police Department in Texas and at the Monroe County Sheriffs Office in Florida, according to records obtained by The Denver Post through a records request. The results of the independent assessment were released publicly and presented to the city council in January. As the officers watched the bodycam footage that showed Hopp holding Garner against a patrol car, Hopp said, "Ready for the pop?" We are angry. Loveland, Colo., Police Department It's been nearly a year since police officers in Loveland, Colo., injured an older woman with dementia and then laughed at the footage of her arrest.. Just over a month later, on Dec. 16, Ashe filed suit in district court. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald), Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali (credit: Larimer County). The Loveland Emergency Communications Center (LECC) is a 24-hour, 365 day/year operation, serving as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) answering all 911 calls over 260 square miles of southern Larimer County, as well as non-emergent calls to Loveland Police Department. I found the actions captured in this video deeply troubling and not reflective of the values of our organizations staff, he said. Three Loveland, Colorado, police officers are no longer employed with the department after their involvement in the arrest and booking of a 73-year-old woman with dementia. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Pamela Johnson is an award-winning journalist with two decades invested in the community of Loveland. The cops then took Garner into custody, where she was allegedly held for hours before her injuries were tended to. Failing to intervene in an excessive use of force by police became a crime in Colorado one week before Garners arrest when Gov. I will consider those statements along with all relevant evidence compiled by the (Critical Incident Response Team) in making a charging decision.. Arresting Officer, Two Others Resign After Lawsuit Says They Celebrated Violent Arrest of 73-Year-Old Woman with Dementia Alberto Luperon Apr 30th, 2021, 3:38 pm Three police officers resigned after they and the city of Loveland, Colorado were sued over the rough arrest of 73-year-old Karen Garner, who a lawsuit says has cortical dementia. Thank you for your interest in the Loveland Police Department. However, he was named in a separate excessive force lawsuit filed in connection with the 2019 arrest of resident Preston Sowl. Minyvonne Burke. In the video, Hopp gives Jalali a fist bump when asked how the arrest went. The incident occurred in 2020 but a lawsuit wasnt filed until last year. During the press conference, Ticer didn't specify whether the officers resigned or were fired. The results of the independent assessment were released publicly and presented to the city council in January. A screen capture from body-worn camera video of Karen Garner's 2020 arrest and a portrait of Loveland Police Chief Bob Ticer. 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This philosophy allowed our agency, working together with the community, to significantly decrease crimes and traffic crashes in Loveland, which was a top priority. The suit claims that the city should not have fired Ashe and asks for a jury trial. Garner's daughter, Allisa Swartz, spoke about the arrest with 9Wants to Know reporter Matt Jablow. During this period of time we were able to accomplish many projects such as the building of the Northern Colorado Regional Law Enforcement Training Center and completion of the Combined Regional Information Systems Project (CRISP), both of which support community safety for our officers and the public. ", "He said that our mothers case has 'hurt him personally,'" the family statement said. Discovery Company. DENVER - Two former Loveland police officers face charges in relation to their arrest of 73-year-old Karen Garner last year. Previously, he worked for the Holyoke Enterprise in Holyoke, Colorado. Garner then can be heard saying, "Don't do that!" We don't play this game. Additionally, he said the department is mandating training around mental health conditions, specifically Alzheimers and dementia, and including the City Attorneys Office and Human Resources staffers on the review of use-of-force reports entered into the BlueTeam software suite. Ashe was fired after he allegedly asked a records division technician to search for records pertaining to Sgt. "We failed, and we are very sorry for that.". The city of Loveland and Loveland Police Department settled the lawsuit with Sowl in January for nearly $300,000. (Warning: The content in this video is graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.). experienced, we hope that this sentence can bring some measure of justice to her and her family.". Hopp tells Jalali to help him get Garner on the ground and then he hogties her and forces her into the back of a police car. Jalali, Hopp and Community Service Officer Tyler Blackett resigned from the department April 30, two weeks after Garners family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over the arrest. On Wednesday, Justine Bruno with the Loveland City Managers Office told CNN that Jalali along with officers Tyler Blackett and Philip Metzler were placed on administrative leave. Our hearts could not possibly ache any more, the statement read. I wish to thank the community and professional members of Loveland PD who focused on our mission to reduce crime and increase traffic safety through a smart data-driven approach. In Larimer County Court in early March, Hopp pleaded guilty to an assault charge that was punishable by 2 to 8 years in prison. He did not immediately provide the name of the lawyers hired by the city. Jalali can be seen in the bodycam video pinning helping Hopp to pin Garner to the police car Credit: The Life & Liberty Law Office. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That prosecutor remains with the office, but McLaughlin, who was sworn in as DA in January, said he made it clear that employees should report future excessive force cases. Loveland Police Department Interim Chief Eric Stewart has issued the following statement regarding the sentencing of former police officer Austin Hopp: "The Loveland Police Department is grateful for the District Attorney's diligence and pursuit of due process during this very important case. 2. ", More:Fort Collins man sues Loveland police officer, alleges wrongful DUI arrest. The Town of Prescott Valley community relations coordinator told FOX31, During every step of the extensive interview and hiring process, Chief Ticer was forthcoming and fully disclosed everything that happened regarding this incident. Previously, the Loveland Police Department had said one officer was placed on leave and two others were reassigned to administrative duties. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Example video title will go here for this video. The investigation will be led by Fort Collins Police Services. The police have known about this for 10 months and the videos speak for themselves. Investigators also allege that Hopp knew about the shoulder injury given that he described the pop sound as he dislocated Garners shoulder while showing the others video of the arrest. Jalali, who recently arrived, said, "Stand up! Garners family in a statement through their attorney said Ticer's comments Friday were "endeavoring to protect only himself and the reputation of the LPD. Garner was taken to an intake holding facility at Loveland Police Department where she complained multiple times about having injuries. Jalali previously worked for the Lafayette Police Department and volunteered with the Weld County Sheriffs Office mounted posse. The lawsuit, which was filed on Dec. 16, claims that Ticer decided to fire Ashe on Oct. 1 for allegedly violating a department policy on records access. / CBS Colorado. "I've been in law enforcement 32 years, and what I saw in there hurt me personally. An innocent, elderly, disabled and severely injured resident of the United States of America was left handcuffed to a bench in a holding cell while the arresting officers laughed, joked and gloated about the arrest while watching their own body camera footage, Ritter said, and questioned how the incident was handled internally. Other photos spread of the pair living together at Jalali's home, when Hopp was still married. We have elected each of you to serve us. She shrugs her shoulders and keeps walking. Hopp arrested Karen Garner in June 2020 after she allegedly left a store without paying for about $14 worth of items. That's how it works," Jalali says. She said she doesn't understand why the officers did what they did and said the incident has made her mother's dementia worse. A violent snapping sound can be heard when Hopp assists and pushes Garners arm as she shrieks in pain. suggesting he was aware that he had injured her. He was previously named in a separate excessive force lawsuit that resulted in a $290,000 settlement by the city in January 2021. She was forced to sit in a holding cell without medical attention for hours, even after Hopp, Jalali and another Loveland employee were heard on security footage acknowledging that she may have injuries. A former Loveland police officer pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges alleging he assaulted a woman during an arrest in summer 2020, then downplayed his use of force in the arrest report. RELATED: Lawyer claims new video shows Loveland police knew of injuries caused to 73-year-old woman during arrest. Denver Post reporter Sam Tabachnik contributed to this report. Sgt. The citys human resources department and an outside group will conduct an internal investigation into the incident and decide whether more officers should be disciplined. Three police officers involved in the rough arrest of a 73-year-old Colorado woman with dementia have resigned, officials said Friday. But Hopps affidavit shows that Hopp did file a report. Garner was 73 when she was arrested and was reportedly injured as a result of that arrest. The assault and attempt to influence a public servant are felony charges and the official misconduct charge is a misdemeanor. It is a crime to help other people commit crimes, she said. LOVELAND, CO - APRIL 30, 2021: Loveland Police Chief Bob Ticer speaks Friday, April 30, 2021, about three officers involved the the Karen Garner arrest that are no longer with the department. Phillip Metzlers calls related to the arrest of Karen Garner in June 2020. Ticer said Wednesday that he did not become aware of the arrest until the day Schielke filed the lawsuit. The officers' initial report said Garner, who has dementia, was not injured. The city of Loveland has not filed a response in court, and City Attorney Moses Garcia said he could not comment on pending litigation. Another sergeant, Antolina Hill, was reassigned. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Mark Hansel. "The Loveland Police Department is comprised of men and women that are out there taking calls for service right now, that are working very hard and honoring the community and servicing with integrity and value and being trustworthy.". The excessive force lawsuit detailed how the aggressive conduct seen on the bodycam video from the June 26, 2020 arrest caused Garner to suffer a fractured upper arm and dislocated shoulder along with other injuries. Ashe was not involved in Garners arrest or the civil lawsuit filed against the department and several officers, including Metzler. I just want justice for my mom.. Footage from the video was shot in the Loveland Police Departments booking area shortly after Garners arrest. I know the lawsuits going on, and thats something we can hide behind but the information needs to be put out there.. Neither Hopp, Jalali or Blackett made any attempt to provide Garner medical care after learning of the pop as described by Hopp to them and after Garner repeated approximately 22 times in their respective presence that her shoulder hurt, the affidavit states. FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Three police officers involved in the arrest and detention of 73-year-old Karen Garner, who has dementia, last summer have resigned, Loveland police officials. Those are the words of Loveland Police Officer Daria Jalali, said with a smile, after her Show more Show more GOVERNOR REAGAN AS GUEST WITH JOHNNY CARSON - 03/15/75 Edward Everitt 1M views 9. Ticer said there will be an internal affairs investigation handled by the city's human resources director. The majority of police officers at the Loveland Police Department have now gone through. It's unclear why Metzler and Hill were not among those no longer with the department. A lawsuit has been filed against a Colorado police department over claims their officers used excessive force during the arrest of a 73-year-old woman. Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for Hopp and Jalali, and McLaughlin said he believed the two former officers planned to turn themselves in. Schielke said because of the dementia, Garner forgot to pay for the items, which were retrieved by Walmart employees. The family on Mothers Day visited Garner at the memory care facility where she now lives, said Shannon Steward, Garners daughter-in-law. Garner's attorney released a video that she said shows the officers knew of her injuries and neglected to provide her with medical attention. Garner, who lives with dementia, allegedly tried to steal less than $15 worth of goods from Walmart. Updated ", Jalali appeared to ruefully brush off the dustup: "A little muddy, a little bloody, that's how it works.". After serving on the LPD for nearly six years, Bob. Former Loveland Police officers Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali are facing multiple criminal counts for their actions. Metzler was Hopp and Jalalis supervising officer at the time of Garners arrest. "It's a really important thing for everyone to know that this is now a criminal investigation," said Hacker. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The pop refers to something in the video, but its not clear what that is. Loveland Police Chief Robert Ticer said at a news conference Friday that Hopp, Blackett and Jalali "are no longer employed" with the department but declined to specify whether they resigned or were terminated. An amended complaint says that Hill came into the booking area and saw that Garner was injured but did not get her medical care. Ashe also claims Chief Bob Ticer fired him without issuing a final written warning and without consulting with the citys human resources department both of which he is required to do according to the city's administrative policy, according to the lawsuit. Garner was 73 when she was forcibly arrested by former officer Austin Hopp, who currently faces multiple felony charges alleging he assaulted Garner during the arrest. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (KDVR) Multiple charges have been filed against two Loveland police officers for their involvement in the arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia. Im very, very disappointed. ", "It hurt to see that," Ticer said Friday in reaction to the bodycam video. A former Loveland police officer says he was wrongfully fired in October and is asking a jury to overturn the decision and award him back pay, according to a lawsuit filed in December. We have engaged outside counsel who will be representing the city in this matter, said Garcia. As first reported by CBS4, the Larimer County District Attorney's Office elected to move forward with a plea agreement against the will of the Garner Family, something they have the legal right to do. Two former Loveland police officers will face criminal charges for violently arresting a 73-year-old woman with dementia and lying about or failing to report the womans injuries, which included a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder. Department spokesman Tom Hacker later confirmed they had resigned. Further, the investigation showed that Daria Jalali, having witnessed that excessive force, failed to live up to her duties under the law and as a sworn peace officer to either intervene or report that conduct.. Its unclear who reviewed that report and whether those who reviewed the report looked at the body camera footage. Show Transcript. Photo courtesy of Sarah Shielke and the Life and Liberty Law Office. Ticer said the decision was personal and released a statement on Tuesday: I am very proud of the successes that we had during my tenure as chief of police for our community and our department over the last six years. Cold case: Who murdered this man on Lookout Mountain? Adams declined to answer a series of questions from councilor Andrea Samson, who mentioned that some community members are asking for the officer to be fired. She remained in that cell for two and a half hours, the lawsuit states, until she was taken to a hospital. Phillip Metzler. Tom Hacker, a spokesperson for LPD, said Blackett was at the booking location where Garner was transported after her arrest and also engaged in the transfer of Garner to the Larimer County Jail. Garner was wrestled to the ground within 30 seconds of a police officer exiting his patrol car. Max Levy has covered city government for the Loveland Reporter-Herald, joining the staff in 2019. Karen Garner was arrested last June for walking out of a Walmart with $13.88 worth of items, according to a lawsuit filed Sunday. Ticer, he alleges, did neither. Former Loveland Police Officer Paul Ashe sues, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Former Loveland Police Officer Paul Ashe sues for wrongful termination, Loveland Museum showcases mid-century masters of the New York School, Loveland, Berthoud law enforcement calls: Arrests for impaired driving, Man charged with shooting at Larimer County deputies sentenced to 18 years in prison, Ferguson High School student business wins top DECA award, Brought to you by Prairie Mountain Publishing. Police were called and the arrest left Garner with multiple injuries, including a broken humerus, a dislocated shoulder and a sprained wrist, according to the lawsuit. All rights reserved. This footage has been edited by the law firm representing Garner. ", About 30 seconds later, Garner began to slump toward the ground. "A little bloody. The rescue happened Jan. 26. Hopp is facing felony charges for his . Psychologist Kathi Fanning, who is the director of training for the Center for Trauma and Resilience, said that kind of reaction from the officers could be a sign of desensitization. Cant take statins? "It's one that LPD asked for and the DA is taking it on Fort Collins Police, both working on this [investigation] and we hope that this investigation goes as expeditiously as possible and that we learn of the outcome very soon.". As for the Loveland community, we will build upon recent progress in strengthening trust in our police department. On the day of the encounter, Hopp pursued a visibly disoriented Karen Garner while she was walking on a highway shoulder afterfleeing a Walmart where she had failed to pay for $13.38 worth of items. "What you saw in the video, not the Loveland Police Department," Ticer said Friday in reaction to the surveillance video. Its time for action., Body cam video shows arrest of Colorado woman with dementia. Ashe filed a lawsuit in 8th Judicial District Court against the city of Loveland in December, alleging that he should not have been fired and asking for his job back. RELATED: Loveland Police to require training by Alzheimer's Association after excessive force allegation, SUGGESTED VIDEOS:Investigations from 9Wants to Know. For that I am most grateful and proud of. It was discussed at every level of the process, including the actions Chief Ticer took once he was made aware of the situation.. Judge Joseph Dean Findley has a review of the lawsuit scheduled for 7 a.m. Feb. 25. A little muddy. Ashe is requesting a jury overturn Ticer's decision to fire him and award him back pay and compensation for lost benefits since his termination. Fanning works in part with police departments, 911 call operators and officers who have been subjected to trauma. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 2023 Cable News Network. Officers Austin Hopp, Tyler Blackett and Daria Jalali were placed on administrative leave over the incident, along with Sgt.