Case of Karen Garner

What is use of force

Using physcial force when believed that non violent means would not help to make an arrest, protect themselves or others from bodliy harm or prevent an escape.

What is use of force

Facts about the case

Overall facts of the case

-Garner suffers from dementia and sensory aphasia

- Garner left walmart without paying in june 2020 by accident. - The stored reported it

- Former officer austin hopp found her walking home. She didnt stop for him so he then

-Roughly grabbed her

-Twisted her arm

-Shoved her to the ground

- She suffered multiple injuries from the encounter

-Bloody nose

-scapes to the face

-knee contusions

Actions of victim

From the victims perspective

Karen Garner was leaving walmart when she forget to pay. The workers brought her back inside and took her items. When she offered her credit card to pay they refused so she left(she was confused on why they brought her back to the store). Then when she was walking home former officer hopp tried getting her attention with his overhead lights twice which she didnt understand. While being arrested she kept saying Im going home.

Statement

Family statements

The family said that money "will pay for the around-the-clock care she has required after her condition deteriorated following her arrest"

Questions to be answered

Perspective of the police

Any polices in place and were they violated? A: Yes and yes. The use of force is allowed if you think nonviolent means wouldnt suffice but former officer hopp used excessive use of force for a situation that didnt need it.

Also austin hopp was attempting to influence the public servant.

Were statements made by officer or department. A: yes both made statements the former officer apologized for actions in court to the family. Also the LPD made a statement saying what happened, what charges the three officers got and that they were in supported of the charges

Criminal charges

Outcome of

cases

There were 3 officers involved

Austin Hopp, Daria Jalai and Tyler Blackett

Austin Hopp was charged with the following charges: 2 felonies - Second degree assault of an At-Risk-Adult

-Attempt to influence a public servant

A mismeanor

-!st degree official misconduct

They are all resigned from the LPD

Run Down

Closing statement

All officers were either charged, resigned or both.

Karen Garner is now at a mind care facility.

The city and officers publicly apologized for their actions and involvement

Sadly this incident made Garners condition worse and she now has PTSD from it.

All references

References

City of Loveland. News. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.lovgov.org/Home/Components/News/News/6419/

Gleeson, S. (2022, August 8). Ex-colorado police officer sentenced for not intervening in arrest of woman with dementia. USA Today. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/08/08/ex-colorado-police-officer-sentenced-arrest-woman-dementia/10263677002/

Grewe, L. (2021, April 15). Woman with dementia arrested after forgetting to pay for merchandise sues Loveland Police officers. https://www.kktv.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.kktv.com/2021/04/15/woman-with-dementia-arrested-over-14-theft-sues-police/

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Sensory aphasia definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/sensory%20aphasia#:~:text=%3A%20inability%20to%20understand%20spoken%2C%20written,Wernicke's%20area)%20concerned%20with%20la

nguage

Overview of police use of Force. National Institute of Justice. (2020, March 5). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/overview-police-use-force#:~:text=The%20International%20Association%20of%20Chiefs,use%20force%20and%20how%20much.

Schmelzer, E. (2021, April 20). Da launches investigation of Loveland Police's forceful arrest of 73-year-old woman with dementia. The Denver Post. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/19/loveland-police-arrest-dementia-investigation/

9newsdenver. (2021, April 15). Raw: Body camera footage shows 73-year-old with dementia forced to ground. YouTube. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9rOWDrRQxU