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02-01
POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565041CityTOCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerrRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint0201DATEApril92003ThisistheRepodofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB0201theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetothereportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDURETheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkonJune52002AsrequiredbySection885oftheCitycodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasdueSeptember22002FouradditionalextensionsweregrantedandtheChiefsReportwasfiledonJanuary172003AsummationoftheinterviewwiththeComplainantwasattachedtotheChiefsreportPCRB0201Page1 TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeanstheBoardwillreviewtheComplaintontherecordwithnoadditionalinvestigationThefollowingdocumentswereincludedwiththeChiefsReportICPDIncidentReportICPDIncidentNarrativeOfficerChargesfiledagainstcomplaintantandICPDUseofForceReportVoluntaryStatementfromwitnessTranscribedinterviewswithcomplainantandseveralwitnessessummariesofphoneinterviewswithwitnessesandaarnmarytimelineofcontactswithwitnessesTheBoardmettoconsiderthereportonthefollowingdatesJanuary212003March42003March112003March242003andAPiil2003FINDINGSOFFACT25OnJune52002acomplaintwasfiledregardinganincidentthatoccurredinMarch2002inaDubuqueStreetbarTheincidentresultedinTheComplainantsarrestforPublicIntoxicationTheftinthc5thDegreeandInterferencewithOfficialActsHealsosustainedanasalfracturelacerationsontherightsideofhisnoseandfacialabrasionsduringthearrestanddetentionprocessTheComplainantassertedthatwhileonhiswaytothebathroomhewasseizedfrombehindandhandcuffedbyOfficerATheofficeraccusedhimofstealinghisflashlightwhichtheComplainantdeniesdoingTheComplainantwasquicklyescortedoutofthebarandplacedfacingthebarsexteriorwallnexttoabrickcolumnTheComplainantallegedthatOfficerAsworeathimsayingYoudumbfuckwhatwereyouthinkingyoufuckingidiottryingtostealfromacopTheofficerdeniedthisacknowledgingthathemighthaveusedthewordhellTheComplainantstatedthathedidnotphysicallyresistthearrestbutdidattempttogetOfficerAtoexplainwhyhewasbeingarrestedOfficerAindicatedthattheComplainanttwistedturnedhisheadandstraightenedhislegssothatawristlockwasnecessarytomovehimfromthebuildingOfficerAfurtherstatedthattheComplainantcontinuedtoresistcontrolverballychallengingtheofficertofightandthreateningtorunOfficerAstatedHeturnedhisheadandshouldertofacemepushingagainstmenumeroustimesasIheldhimagainstthecornerHekickedhisfeetbackhittingmylegsashecontinuallythreatenedandbackedintomeAsIfeltthesituationcontinuetoescalateandfeltthedefendantcontinuetoresistmeItookhimfromthecornerandplacedhimonthegroundHehithisfaceonthegroundasIplacedhimfacedowntostophimfromcontinuingtoresistAccordingtotheComplainantThenextthinghappenedsofastthatallIrememberisopeningmyeyesinadazeonthegroundwithbloodpouringoutofmyfaceHestatesthathewastoldbyanumberofhisfriendsthatOfficerAhadgrabbedhimbytheheadandslammedhisfaceintothebuildingSincetheincidentoccurredlateintheeveningtherewerenumerouswitnessesTwoofficersBandCwereinterviewedandprovidedcompelledstatementsAbaremployeeandayoungmanarrestedbyOfficerBweretheonlywitnessesotherthantheofficerswhowerenotfriendsoracquaintancesoftheComplainantBothoftheseindividualsobservedtheComplainantbeingtakentothegroundbutperceiveditindifferentwaysonemoreconsistentwiththeofficersversiontheotheroftheComplainantsAttemptsweremadebytheIowaCityPCRB0201Page2 PoliceDepartmenttointerviewallidentifiedwitnessesAtotalof24werecontactedAccordingtotheChiefsReportamajorityofthewitnessesobservedonlypartoftheinteractionbetweentheofficerandtheComplainanteightwitnessesdidnotprovideinsightintotheallegationsandfivewitnesseswereunabletobeinterviewedorrefusedtobeinterviewedInformationobtainedfromtheinterviewswasquitevariedoftenlackingdetailandsometimescontradictorySomeoftheinformationthatweighedintheBoardsconclusionwere1TheadmissionoftheComplainantthathehadconsumedeightorninebeersandadackandCoke2WitnesseswereinconsistentinregardtotheofficersuseofprofanityandtheirdescriptionsoftheComplainantandOfficerAsdemeanorcalmandreasonablevsshoutingandangry3AnumberofthewitnessesagreedthattheComplainantofferedverbalresistancetoOfficerA4AnumberofwitnessesreportedthattheComplainantseemedtobeattemptingtogetawayfromOfficerApushingshufflinghisfeettryingtoturnaroundOfficerBreportedhearingOfficerAsayQuitresistingThebaremployeealsonotedtheComplainantseffortstoescapeandthreatstorun5AnumberofwitnessesreportedthatOfficerAappearedtobeattemptingtoholdtheComplainantagainstthewallnotingvariouslythathehadhisarmagainsthisbackorneckhishandagainsthisheadwaspushingtheComplainant6NowitnessreportedseeingtheComplainantstrikeorkickOfficerA7NowitnessstatedthattheyobservedtheofficerslammingtheComplainantsheadagainstthewallManyreportednotobservingtheblooduntiltheComplainantwastakentotheground8TherewasconsiderablevariationinreportsregardingwhenandhowtheComplainantwasdirectedtothegroundOnewitnessreporteditoccurredinthebarothersindicatedthattheComplainantwasfirstputonhiskneesandthenpushedornudgedtothegroundTimelapsesalsobetwenkneesandgroundvariedfrom1015secondstoacoupleofminutesO9TheelapsedtimebetweentheComplainantbeingremovedfr6theohrandthentakentothegroundappearstoberelativelyshortCONCLUSIONAllegation1DiscourteousBehaviorOnDutyThisallegationisbasedontheComplainantstatingtheofficerbeganhisinitialcontactsayingYoudumbfuckwhatwereyouthinkingYoufuckingidiottryingtostealfromacopNowitnessindicateshearingthesewordsSomewitnessesstatethatOfficerAappearedtobeangryonestatesshebelievedsheheardOfficerAuseprofanityTheofficerPCRB0201Page3 indicatedhemayhaveusedthewordhellThereisinsufficientevidencetochallengetheconclusionreachedbytheChiefTheBoardfindtheChiefsconclusionthatOfficerAactedappropriatelyissupportedbysubstantiatedevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation12FailureToProvideForTheSafetyAndProtectionofAnArrestedPersonAnarrestingofficerisresponsibleforthesafetyandprotectionofanarrestedpersonThereisnoquestionthattheComplainantwasunderarrestandinthecustodyofOfficerAwhenhisinjuryoccurredFurtherthereappearstobenoquestionthattheinjurywasaresultoftheofficersactionalthoughthereisdisagreementamongwitnessesastothespecificsoftheactionOfficerAstatesHehithisfaceonthegroundasIplacedhimfacedowntostophimfromcontinuingtoresistAtissueiswhethertheinjuryoccurredbecauseofindifferenceneglectormaliceorwhetheritwastheunavoidableconsequenceofthenecessityofcontrollingaresistingvictimWitnessaccountsbecauseoftheirvariabilityandlackofspecificityareoflittleutilityOfficerBwhowascloseathandwritingacitationobservedresistanceonthepartoftheComplainantbutdidnotobservehimbeingplacedonthegroundTheChiefsReportstatesinsicefforttobettercontroltheComplainantOfficerAdecidedtoplacetheComplainantonthegroundTheComplainantwashandcuffedandfromastandingpositionOfficerAusedtheComplainantsmomentumfrompushingbackinhisdirectiontoturntheComplainanttotherightandplacehimonthegroundTheComplainantshandswerehandcuffedbehindhimandtherewasnothingtobreakhisfallTheComplainantsnosestruckthesidewalkwherehesustainedtheinjuryTherewerefourotherdescriptionsfromvariouswitnessesastohowthisinjurywassustainedThescenarioinwhichOfficerAtakestheComplainanttothegroundfromastandingpositionappearstobethemostlikelyscenarioandissupportedbyanumberofwitnessesTheBoardbelievesthepreponderanceofevidenceisconsistentwithOfficerAscontentionthatthecomplaintantwasresistingcontrolItisnotclearhoweverfromOfficerAsaccountwhetherornottheComplainantsresistancewassuchthatOfficerAwasunabletocontroltheComplainantsdesenttothegroundsufficientlytopreventhisfacefromslammingintothesidewalkTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthattheinjurywasnotsustainedasaresultofOfficerAfailingtoprovideforthesafetyandprotectionoftheComplainantwasissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDCJAllegation3ExcessiveUseOfForceTheComplainantsallegationwasbasedoninformationprovidedtohimbyfriendsaniiacquaintanceswhowereidentifiedaswitnessesbytheComplainantThmIinanstatedthewitnessesinformedhimthatOfficerAgrabbedhimbythebaofthheadandPCRB0201Page4 slammeditagainsttheexteriorwallofthebarcausinghisinjuryTheComplainanthadnoindependentmemoryofthisoccurringNoneofthewitnessesindicatedthattheysawOfficerAshovetheComplainantsheadagainstthewallTheinvestigationbytheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentdeterminedthattheComplainantsinjuriesoccurredwhenhewasplacedonthegroundPhotographswereprovidedbytheComplainanttakenbyhisfatherthedayafterthearrestthatshowbloodspotsonthepillaroutsidethebarshowingthepossibilityoftheinjurybeingsustainedbeforethevictimwasplacedonthegroundTheChiefsReportstatesthatasubsequentinterviewwithOfficerCdeterminedthataftertheComplainanthadsustainedtheinjunjOfficerCtookcontroloftheComplainantandplacedhimagainstornearthewalltoloosenoradjustthehandcuffsThisislikelywherethebloodonthewallcomefromApeaceofficerwhohasanarrestedpersonincustodyisjustifiedinusingreasonableforcetopreventtheescapeofthearrestedpersonfromcustodyTheChiefsReportstatesOfficerAsuseofforceinvolvedverbalcommandshandcuffingdirectingmotionrestrictingmovementandredirectingtheComplainantfromthestandinghandcuffedpositiontoplacingtheComplainantonthegroundinapronepositionOfficerAsdecisiontoplacetheComplainantonthegroundwasbasedonactionsoftheComplainantandmotivatedbyanattempttoestablishbettercontroloftheComplainantItismyconclusionthegiventhecircumstancesOfficerAsactionswerereasonableandjustifiedandthathewasactingwithintheguidelineofthepoliciesandproceduresoftheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatOfficerAactedappropriatelyissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation3oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDCommentOrdinance013976requirestheBoardtogivedeferencetothePoliceClSgoPlgityManagersReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsandCityManagersprofesssionalpertiseTheBoardmayrecommendthatthePoliceChieforCityManagerreversetheirfindingonlyifathefindingsarenotsupportedbysubstantialevidencebthefindingsareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorcthefindingsarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeorfederalstateorlocallawInthecurrentcasetheBoardconcludedtheymustsustaintheChiefsconclusionregardingallegation2butfeltsomeuneasinessindoingsoTheuneasinessstemsfromthesubstantialevidencerequirementInthecurrentcasethereisnodisagreementregardingwhetherornotthecomplainantwasinthecustodyoftheofficerorwhethertheinjuriesresultedfromtheofficersactionsAtissueiswhethertheinjurywasinevitableorwhetheritcouldhavebeenpreventedwithoutjeopardizingtheOfficerAscontroloverthesubjectThereisnotagreatdealofinformationthatbearsonthisissueThereistheBoardbelievesapreponderanceofevidencetosupportthecontentionthattheComplainantofferedresistancetoOfficerAofaverbalandphysicalnaturePCRB0201Page5 WasthisresistancesufficienttorequirethecomplainanttobeplacedonthegroundtoretaincontrolThedecisionofOfficerAwasyesitwasnecessaryThisdecisionissupportedbytheChieffsReportWastheresistancesufficientlystrongthatOfficerAcouldnothaveguidedtheComplainanttothegroundwithoutcausinginjuryOfficerBdidnotappeartofeelthattheresistancewasgreatenoughtorequirehisassistancenordidOfficerArequestitTheBoardbelievesthatthereisnoinformationintheChiefsReportthatbearsdirectlyonthisquestionTheComplainantwashandcuffedwithhishandsbehindthebackmakingitobviousthatifheweretakenplacedordirectedtothegroundfaceforwardwithoutsomesupporthewouldhaveahighprobabilityofinjuryTheBoardisrequiredtorelyontheChieFsexpertiseunlessthereisalackofsubstantialevidencetosupporthisconclusionTheBoardfeelssubstantialevidenceislackingthattheinjurytothecomplainantwasbeyondOfficerAscontrolbuttheBoardalsofeelsthatthereisinsufficientevidencethattheinjurywastheresultofindifferencenegligenceormaliceHencetheBoardsconclusionthattheallegation2wasnotsustainedTheBoardisconcernedthatwhenarrestedindividualsaresubstantiallyunabletoprotectthemselvesaswhenhandcuffedwiththeirarmsbehindthemofficersbesensitizedtothepossibilitythatthisvulnerabilitycouldresultinseriousinjurywheneffortstocontrolthesubjectareimplementedTheBoardrecommendsthistopicbeaddressedintrainingifitisnotalreadybeingdonePCRB0201Page6