"They were not fired. The results of the independent assessment were released publicly and presented to the city council in January. Soon after the lawsuit was filed, Ticer showed contrition. Adams declined to respond to Molloys criticisms. Karen Garner suffered a dislocated shoulder, fractured arm and sprained wrist after she was slammed to the ground and hogtied during a June 26 arrest, according to a federal lawsuit. Three more Colorado police officers have been placed on administrative leave in connection with the violent arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia, according to the Loveland city managers office. Earlier this week, Schielke released a second video that shows three Loveland officers laughing about Garner's arrest. We wish him the best in his new role, Loveland City Manager Steve Adams said. The body camera footage can be heard but not seen on the police station video. I know theres a desire to talk in public there is, at this point, information that we just cant share that way, Adams said. IE 11 is not supported. For that I am most grateful and proud of. LOVELAND, Colo. ( KDVR) The chief of the Loveland Police Department is leaving in the midst of controversy within the city's force. "What you saw on the video was not the Loveland Police Department. The video shows him commenting on how muddy the officers are. The outside group or groups that will help the city in those investigations have not yet been finalized, Ticer said. Why are only two officers charged?. He then said that four police officers involved in the arrest have been placed on administrative leave, including Hopp, Tyler Blackett, Sgt. Were going to get informed as quickly as we can, and so is the community, he said. Loveland Officers Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali and Community Services Officer Tyler Blackett stepped down over the June 2020 arrest of Karen Garner, Police Chief Robert Ticer said during a. More:Loveland police buy new body cameras, Tasers to enhance de-escalation, transparency efforts. 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 charges were filed on Wednesday against former Loveland Police Department officers Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali, who arrested and booked Karen Garner as she was walking home from a. ", "He said that our mothers case has 'hurt him personally,'" the family statement said. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Loveland PD employs 115 sworn officers and 60 professional staff. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. That is the law in Colorado. One of the officers, Austin Hoppis facing felony assault and other charges, which a possible plea deal is being negotiated and the family is rejecting. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We're not going to hold you. "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.". While this will not change the terrible treatment Ms. Garner Im very, very disappointed. Plus, his attorneys allege the records technician testified that she, not Ashe, ran the search and that the policy surrounding what involves running a query of records is ambiguous. However, because Ashe is the one who requested the search be done, the department alleges Ashe made the query in violation of policy, according to the lawsuit. LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) - Nearly two years after allegedly breaking the arm of an elderly woman living with dementia during a controversial arrest, former Loveland Police Officer Austin Hopp. According to a YouTube transcription of the video, Hopp then asks, Are you ready for the pop? as Jalali covers her ears. However, he was named in a separate excessive force lawsuit filed in connection with the 2019 arrest of resident Preston Sowl. LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) The chief of the Loveland Police Department is leaving in the midst of controversy within the citys force. Austin Hopp, 26, pleaded not guilty to all three charges in connection with the arrest of now 74-year-old Karen Garner who has dementia in June 2020. Loveland police Chief Robert Ticer said at a news conference Wednesday that he fully supported the charges against Hopp and Jalali. It is a crime to help other people commit crimes, she said. Hopp was sentenced to five years in prison with three years of mandatory parole for his guilty plea to second-degree assault stemming from his 2020 arrest of Karen Garner. 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. Two former officers, Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali, are facing criminal charges for their part in her arrest, and the city settled a civil lawsuit with Garners family for $3 million. Are you finished? A fourth officer, Sgt. The case was later dismissed. 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. The news comes a day after. The rescue happened Jan. 26. The lawsuit claims Ashe was fired because he was not an employee of the Police Department who has been trained in the use of the records management system and therefore was not authorized to query this information.. We demand swift action now, he added. ", "It hurt to see that," Ticer said Friday in reaction to the bodycam video. Most of the departments officers have completed Alzheimers awareness training since the lawsuit was filed and the department also will do more de-escalation training, the chief said. The arrest, captured on an officers body camera, repeatedly shows Garner saying, Im going home, to the arresting officer. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment, Scout Motors picks South Carolina for new $2B EV. TWO Colorado cops whose recorded violent arrest last year of a dementia-stricken elderly woman are now facing criminal charges. This is not an excessive force case its torture in broad daylight, by multiple officers, including supervisors, Schielke said. He said that the same administrative policies that all officers are required to follow require Ticer to issue a final written warning and said the department head, in this case the chief, shall consult with human resources on any such decision. 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. April 30, 2021 / 2:58 PM The criminal case against the pair comes after Hopp and Jalali, as well as community service officer Tyler Blackett, resigned from the Loveland Police Department in Colorado when a federal lawsuit was filed last month. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. he asks. The city said Ashe violated three department policies and procedures:. 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,. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. "Our goal at the Loveland Police Department has always been to make our community proud," Ticer told reporters Friday. Adams said he had shared all he could about the ongoing lawsuit. 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. 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. 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. Hopp the first officer to arrive on scene faces charges of second-degree assault, attempt to influence a public servant and official misconduct, court records show. "I've been in law enforcement 32 years, and what I saw in there hurt me personally. I want to extend my deep appreciation to Chief Ticer for his nearly six years of leadership, stewardship, and vision for Loveland. Beyond more criminal charges, Garners family wants to know exactly who knew about the brutality of the arrest prior to the federal lawsuit being filed and why those people did not act. An audible pop is heard on the camera, something Hopp acknowledged hearing in footage later released by Loveland police. In a statement, Schielke said the new video evidence reveals an LPD sergeant knew Garner was injured and authorized the two other officers to keep her in a cell without medical evaluation or treatment. CNN has contacted the Fraternal Order of Police numerous times and has not heard back. The detectives compiled a 600-page report on the incident, which will not yet be made public because there is now an open criminal case. Use caution in this area. Our hearts could not possibly ache any more, the statement read. but it can also be stressful. While councilor John Fogle asked Adams whether the city could share a timeframe of when more information would be released, Adams said the city wants to communicate more frequently but is limited by the timeframe of Fort Collins Police Services investigation on behalf of the 8th Judicial District Attorneys Office. Photo courtesy of Sarah Shielke and the Life and Liberty Law Office. > Video below was provided by Garner's lawyer, who edited in the verbatim and the commentary at the bottom of the screen. LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) - Nearly two years after allegedly breaking the arm of an elderly woman living with dementia during a controversial arrest, former Loveland Police Officer Austin Hopp was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea agreement to lessen his jail sentence. June 17, 2022 The father of a teenage girl filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against three police officers in Loveland, Colo., who arrested her in 2020, saying the men used excessive force when. The officers did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. A screen capture from body-worn camera video of Karen Garner's 2020 arrest and a portrait of Loveland Police Chief Bob Ticer. ", First published on April 30, 2021 / 2:58 PM. Two co-responders help Loveland police officers on calls related to mental health. These opportunities and partnerships provided a mechanism to put more police officers into our schools to protect our children and staff. Phillip Metzler. 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. Former Loveland police officer Austin Hopp enters the courtroom for his preliminary hearing Thursday, August 19, 2021, at the Larimer County Justice Center. Schielke said her client did not stop when Hopp asked because she did not understand him. These concerns and future actions include mandatory training on interacting with mentally ill citizens and mandatory training on recognizing Alzheimers and dementia in citizens.. 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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. Those actions, according to the suit, were determined to be a violation of department policy. The suit claims that Ashe was fired on that day for asking a records technician to do a search of reports involving Sgt. "Hear the pop?". But as the three of them continue watching, it appears Jalali becomes uncomfortable with the video. The lawsuit says that Garner "was bleeding from the nose, forehead, and wrist, all over herself.". Phil Metzler is the next Loveland cop to arrive on the scene, approving the arrest and reportedly ordering that Garner be denied access to medical care for her injuries afterward., He then asked Hopp and Jalali: "Are you guys all good? The LPD officers on administrative leave include: Schielke alleges the video shows the three arresting officers watching body camera video of Garner's arrest, laughing and celebrating the excessive force, and fist-bumping the fact that one of the officers intimidated a citizen who stopped to make a complaint. Metzler and three other Loveland officers involved in Garners arrest are no longer with the department. Jalali then arrives on scene. Samson received the support of Mayor Jacki Marsh and councilors Ball and Molloy for the council to discuss creating a citizen board to oversee law enforcement activities. The majority of police officers at the Loveland Police Department have now gone through. Fanning works in part with police departments, 911 call operators and officers who have been subjected to trauma. Max Levy has covered city government for the Loveland Reporter-Herald, joining the staff in 2019. Attempts to reach Metzler were unsuccessful on Wednesday evening. 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. The arrest sparked a criminal investigation led by District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin and the Fort Collins Police Services. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. The suit claims that the city should not have fired Ashe and asks for a jury trial. Loveland, Colo., Police Department body-camera video from June 26, 2020, shows the violent arrest of Karen Garner, a 73-year-old with dementia. ", About 30 seconds later, Garner began to slump toward the ground. I get word from an email, I get word from the newspaper, I get word not from the city that works for the elected officials, he said. His reported romantic interest and fellow former officer Jalali who assisted Hopp to cuff 73-year-old Karen Garner - was charged with failing to report use of force, failing to intervene and official misconduct, the Associated Press reported. 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. Fogle also moved successfully for the council to add a public comment period to study sessions for the next 120 days, with Olson casting the only no vote and councilor Don Overcash absent. In the video, Hopp gives Jalali a fist bump when asked how the arrest went. Phillip Metzlers calls related to the arrest of Karen Garner in June 2020. The city settled on a $3 million payment stemming from the suit filed on behalf of Garner. 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. Alert Desk Curator. city settled a civil lawsuit with Garners family for $3 million. 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. The cops then took Garner into custody, where she was allegedly held for hours before her injuries were tended to. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Jalali previously worked for the Lafayette Police Department and volunteered with the Weld County Sheriffs Office mounted posse. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. According to LPD, the incident took place on June 26, 2020, but police said until this month; they had not received a complaint regarding "serious injuries" to Garner. I will consider those statements along with all relevant evidence compiled by the (Critical Incident Response Team) in making a charging decision.. The officers' initial report said Garner, who has dementia, was not injured. Just over a month later, on Dec. 16, Ashe filed suit in district court. Garner's attorney released a video that she said shows the officers knew of her injuries and neglected to provide her with medical attention. The pop refers to something in the video, but its not clear what that is. Once fiercely independent, happy, carefree and a great lover of the outdoors, she is now fearful, distrusting, reclusive., Schielke said in a press release that theres been enough investigating. Austin Hopp Daria. The video shows both officers struggling with Garner. Hopp was hit with assault, attempting to influence a public servant and official misconduct. Metzler was placed on leave on April 27 and makes $2,362 a week, Loveland salary records show. 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. She said it was "unacceptable" that Metzler and Hill remain with the department. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Garners family wants him to be fired and criminally charged and for the police chief to resign, Schielke said. Jalali can be seen in the bodycam video pinning helping Hopp to pin Garner to the police car Credit: The Life & Liberty Law Office. The family on Mothers Day visited Garner at the memory care facility where she now lives, said Shannon Steward, Garners daughter-in-law. suggesting he was aware that he had injured her. Other agencies including the US Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado and the FBI will assist in the investigation, according to a statement from McLaughlins office. Ticer said it "hurt" to see the video of Garner's arrest. The police have known about this for 10 months and the videos speak for themselves. (Warning: The content in this video is graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.). The 8th Judicial District Attorneys Office of Colorado said last week it has requested a review of the incident. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. It hurt to see that," he added. Another sergeant, Antolina Hill, was reassigned. 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. I know the lawsuits going on, and thats something we can hide behind but the information needs to be put out there.. There is no estimated time for when Metzler will return from administrative leave, Ticer said. Ticer, he alleges, did neither. Garner is then seen collapsing to the ground as Jalali tells her: "Stand up, we're going to hold you. 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. Loveland Officers Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali and Community Services Officer Tyler Blackett were all on administrative leave before Chief Robert Ticer announced their departures from the police department during a press conference. LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) -- Body camera footage released by Loveland Police showed officers saving an unconscious woman from a car fire after a January crash. I dont know that this response is enough for our community, Samson said of Adams original statement. Former Loveland Police officers Austin Hopp and Daria Jalali are facing multiple criminal counts for their actions. As the officers watched the bodycam footage that showed Hopp holding Garner against a patrol car, Hopp said, "Ready for the pop?"