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98-18
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9818theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREOnOctober301998thisComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationOnNovember231998theChiefrequestedandtheBoardagreedtoanextensionforsubmissionofhisreporttoDecember111998TheChiefsubmittedhisReportonDecember11998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeansthatitchosetoreviewthematterontherecordbeforeitwithoutadditionalinvestigationbythe BoardTheBoardmetonDecember15and221998andonJanuary51999toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTInOctober1998at230AMOfficer1sawavehicleattempttopulloveracurbintoayardillegallyparkoverthesidewalkanddamageacityownedparkingareaOfficer1requestedbackupandOfficer2arrivedonthescenewithinafewminutesofthecallOfficer1approachedthevehicleinwhichamaledriverandthreepassengerstwomalesonefemalewereseatedWhenOfficer2arrivedthedriverthethreepassengersandthecomplainantwerestandinginthefrontyardofaresidenceThecomplainanthadcomeoutofahousewhereheresidesandwhereabirthdaypartywasbeingheldOneofthepassengerswashisroommateOfficer1begantoconductfieldsobrietytestsonthedriverAtOfficer1srequestOfficer2askedthepassengersforidentificationandtheycompliedHealsoaskedthecomplainantforidentificationThecomplainantquestionedwhythiswasnecessarystatingthathehadnotbeenapassengerinthecarTheroommateandthefemalepassengerconfirmedthistoOfficer2whothenmovedtoapositiontoobservethesobrietytestsbeingadministeredtothedriverOfficer1arrestedthedriverforoperatingwhileintoxicatedThecomplainantquestionedwhythedriverwasbeingarrestedsinceinhisopinionthedriverhaddonewellonthefieldsobrietytestsTheofficersreportedthatthecomplainantrefusedtoleavetheareawhenrequestedtodosousedabusivelanguagesworeandcalledtheofficersnamesOfficer2thenaskedthecomplainanttotakeabreathtestThecomplainantrefusedofferingtotakeabloodtestinsteadAfterfurtherobservingthecomplainantsdemeanorandappearanceanddetectinganodorofalcoholOfficer2placedhimunderarrestforpublicintoxicationThe complainantsarresttransportationtothejailandprocessingatthejailwerecompletedwithoutincidentTheChiefsReportindicatesthatthefollowingpeoplewereinterviewedduringtheinvestigationofthisComplaintthecomplainanttheofficersandawitnesstotheeventswhoisacquaintedwiththecomplainantCONCLUSIONSAllegation1ThecomplainantwasarrestedforpublicintoxicationinhisownyardonprivatenotpublicpropertyBecausethecomplainantwasinthefrontyardofhisresidenceitwasreasonabletoconcludethathewasatthetimeofhisarrestsubjecttoIowalawprohibitingpublicintoxicationTheChiefsconclusionthatthearrestwasmadeinaccordancewiththelawissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation1isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2ThecomplainantwasaskedtoleavetheareaonlyoncenotthreetimesasclaimedinhiscitationWheninterviewedbytheinvestigatorthecomplainantagreedthattheofficersaskedhimtoleavetheareaatleastonceandthathemaynothaveheardanysubsequentrequeststhathemoveawayHedidnotcomplywiththerequeststatingthathelivedattheaddresswheretheincidenttookplaceTheChiefsconclusionthatthecomplainantacknowledgedhearingatleastonerequestthathemoveawayfromtheareaandthattheactualnumberofrequeststheofficersmadeandorthecomplainantheardisirrelevantissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation2isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3ThecomplainantsaidhiscontactwithOfficer2whoarrestedhimwaslimitedThecomplainantsaidthathespoketoOfficer2onlywhenaskedforidentificationwhenaskedtotakeabreathtestwhenthedriverofthevehiclewasarrestedandwhenhehimselfwasarrested 4TheChiefsconclusionthattheofficerusedthiscontacttimetoevaluatethecomplainantsstateofintoxicationandthatthereisnostandardamountofcontacttimerequiredtoformulateanopinionaboutintoxicationissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation3isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation4ThecomplainantexpresseddisagreementwiththeofficersreportingofthefactsoftheincidentandthereasonsforhisarrestasincludedinthecitationSpecificallyhedoesnotbelievehewasintoxicatedwhenhewasarrestedTheChiefsReportreferstothestatementsofawitnesstotheincidentwhoisacquaintedwiththecomplainantThewitnesssaidhesawthecomplainantdrinkingontheeveningmorningoftheincidentfirstatabardowntownandthenatthebirthdaypartyTheReportnotesthatothersonthescenetriedunsuccessfullytopersuadethecomplainanttogobackinsidethehouseBothofficersstatedthatthecomplainantwasagitatedandverballyabusiveswearingandcallingthemnamesTheChiefsconclusionthatundertheevidencepresentedtheofficersexerciseofdiscretiontochargethecomplainantwithpublicintoxicationwasnotunreasonableissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation4isNOTSUSTAINEDDATEDJanuary51999